Hamish Pringle to leave the IPA

Hamish Pringle is set to stand down from his role as director general of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) after 10 years.

Pringle will leave his post on 29 July 2011, having been at the organisation since August 2001.  The IPA are now seeking to recruit a replacement, according to reports.

The IPA’s president Rory Sutherland, previous president David Pattison and James Goddard will be responsible for appointing a new director general by 1 June 2011, to allow for a two-month handover with Pringle.

Moray MacLennan, the former IPA president, said: “Hamish has been an outstanding director general of the IPA. His commitment has been total and he has been passionate in promoting the value of agencies. Always challenging business practices and organisational structures where appropriate, Hamish has inspired new ways of thinking, and has always been on the front foot when defending our industry.”

Pringle added: “When Terry Wogan gave up his radio show he said he’d rather find the way to the door on his own, before he was shown it, and I do think it’s far better to go when people are asking why you’re leaving, as opposed to when.  It’s a great job for someone who loves the agency business and is passionate about demonstrating its contribution to building brands, and thus the economy as a whole.”