Bishop to leave COI
COI chief executive Alan Bishop is to leave the government body after six years. He will take up the same position at the Southbank Centre early next year.
Bishop, a former chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi International, will take over from Michael Lynch, who will leave the arts centre in April next year.
COI is yet to appoint a successor for Bishop’s position and a spokesman says the recruitment process will be a matter for the Cabinet office.
Bishop says: “After six fantastic years at the Central Office of Information I am very sad to announce my departure. It’s been a great experience.
“I now look forward to taking up the role of chief executive at the Southbank Centre. I have always been passionate about the arts, so this is a new and exciting challenge for me.”
Bishop began his advertising career at Bates London in 1974. He then became the founding partner at start-up agency Milton Sharam Gottlieb in 1978. From there he moved to Foote Cone & Belding before returning to Bates in 1983.
He joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 1985 where he held a variety of senior positions, ending up as chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi International in New York, before becoming chief executive of COI in 2003.
