AA Appoints Hughes As New President

The Advertising Association (AA) has announced the appointment of Penny Hughes as Niall FitzGerald’s replacement as president of the organisation.

The move brings Hughes to the AA after a ten-year career with Coca-Cola, becoming president of the company’s UK and Ireland operations in 1992 at the age of 33. She subsequently stepped down from full-time work for family reasons, but has since achieved a successful portfolio career of non-executive directorships.

Currently a non-executive director of Vodafone, Reuters, Trinity Mirror and the Swedish bank Skaninaviska Enskilda Banken, as well as being the first non-American Director of The Gap, Penny also sits on the Advisory Board of Bridgepoint Venture Capital.

Commenting on her appointment as the AA’s new president-elect, Hughes said: “I am delighted to have been asked to become president of the Advertising Association. I bring more than twenty years’ experience of guiding brands and businesses to meet the needs of consumers across a wide range of products and services. As a passionate believer in responsible advertising I look forward to contributing to the important work of the Advertising Association.”

Hughes’ appointment will be presented for approval at the next meeting of the AA’s Council on 14 April, with the intention that she take over the presidency in mid-May.

Reacting to the appointment, outgoing president Niall FitzGerald KBE, said: “Penny represents a new generation of senior business thinkers who can bring a real breadth of marketing experience that will be of immense value to the communication business.”

David Kershaw, the AA’s chairman, added: “Penny has energy, commitment and extraordinary expertise across the business. Her contribution to the AA will be of great help in the many debates currently affecting our members’ businesses.”

Advertising Association: 020 7828 2771 www.adassoc.org.uk

Recent Stories from NewsLine BBC Cuts 1,700 Jobs To Reinvest In Programmes SMG Enjoys 9% Rise In Profit For 2004 Sky Claims Advertisers Have Nothing To Fear From PVRs

Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive