Richard Foan appointed executive chairman of JICWEBS

ABC veteran Richard Foan has taken on the newly-created role of executive chairman of JICWEBS – the Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards in the UK – as it changes from a part-time entity into a full-time operating business.

Currently group executive director of communication and innovation for ABC, Foan – who has been involved with JICWEBS since its inception in 1999 – is hanging up his hat after 33 years at the media certification company and taking on a full-time role at JICWEBS.

JICWEBS was created by the UK and Ireland’s four key trade bodies – the AOP (Association of Online Publishers), the IAB (Internet Advertising Bureau UK), the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) and the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) – to ensure independent development of standards for measuring performance online and benchmarking best practice for online ad trading.

Former Microsoft executive, Susan Hansford, is also joining JICWEBS as senior business development manager, where she will be responsible for supporting companies to sign up to the certification process for JICWEBS’ anti-fraud, brand safety and viewability initiatives.

“JICWEBS is committed to supporting trusted digital ad trading for all parties,” Foan said.

“Although we’ve already established a strong base, tackling the issues facing digital advertising requires dedicated resource and full-time attention, which is now feasible with the extra investment and support of the key trade bodies and subscribers.”

37 companies have been certified through JICWEBS’ independent audit so far, with a further 23 having signed up to undergo the process.