ASA Appoints New Media Director

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has appointed a new director to develop the self-regulation of paid for advertising within the new media sector.

Alan Chant has taken up the newly created position and will oversee the development of the Admark internet advertising scheme. The scheme supports the extension of self-regulation in the sector by encouraging advertisers to adhere to the British codes of advertising and sales promotion.

The ASA’s director-general, Christopher Graham, said: “The speed at which technology is developing means that much of the new media industry is still in uncharted regulatory waters. Alan’s experience and knowledge of regulatory issues will be of great value to the authority as we develop the self regulatory system within new media.”

Chant will also be responsible for the ASA’s internal IT and information divisions and will direct research projects. He joins from the National Lottery Commission, where he was head of business affairs for seven years.

ASA decided that its codes of practice should apply to the internet following the growth of online advertising during the dotcom boom last year (see Feature: Dotcom Boom Drives Up Media Inflation). The authority concluded that codes should apply to adverts that act as an “introduction” to consumers, such as banner and pop up ads (see ASA Extends Advertising Code To Adverts Online).

ASA: 020 7580 5555 www.asa.org.uk

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