IPA Plays Down “Supergroup” Claims

The IPA has responded to claims published in this week’s Campaign that it has “laid the foundations” for the creation of a “supergroup” that would represent all of the UK communications industry, incorporating the current IPA, the Sales Promotion Consultants Association, the Internet Advertising Bureau, the Public Relations Consultants Association and the agency section of the Direct Marketing Association.

The trade paper claimed that an IPA council meeting this week had given the green light to moves “which could result in the IPA losing its separate identity after 84 years.”

Bruce Haines, IPA president, yesterday played down the progress made in the meeting, saying: “Eighteen months ago IPA Council voted to extend the offer of membership to agencies in the marketing communications industry whose principle source of business was not that of traditional above the line media advertising.”

He continued: “Tuesday’s Council meeting was the first discussion to examine the strategic options open to us. Amongst those is the option to initiate talks with other trade organisations to establish whether there is enough common ground to formalise a working relationship. Until we complete our discussions with the Council and take a decision on the most attractive definition of the future structure of the IPA, no other comment is possible.”

IPA: 020 7235 7020 www.ipa.co.uk

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