IPA nominates EssenceMediacom’s Krichefski as president

EssenceMediacom’s global chief operating officer Josh Krichefski has been nominated as the IPA’s president-elect.

After being ratified (as expected) in the role, the WPP media agency exec will succeed Julian Douglas, vice-chairman of ad agency VCCP on 23 March 2023.

Krichefski said: “I look forward to building on the outstanding work of my predecessors in championing our industry, its creativity and its impact in the world. We are living through an extraordinarily disruptive period which is reshaping the economic, social and natural environment.

“How we continue to adapt as an industry is absolutely crucial as to how we, and our clients, will survive and prosper in the years ahead.”

Krichefski was chosen following a three-month selection process led by former IPA president Nigel Vaz, CEO of Publicis Sapient.

Paul Bainsfair, IPA’s director general, cited Krichefski’s “pioneering work” on good mental health — People First Better Results — as a blueprint for other agencies to follow.

Krichefski joined MediaCom (which is merging with fellow WPP agency Essence) from Havas in 2011 and has been EMEA chief operating officer, COO and then CEO of MediaCom UK, before becoming global COO in 2020.

The IPA is the UK trade body representing companies within advertising, media and marketing communications and is charged with promoting best practice standards and ensuring the work it does benefits the public and the wider economy.