VCCP’s Ian Priest confirmed as new IPA president

The IPA has today announced that Ian Priest, Founding Partner of VCCP and International Managing Director of Chime, has been elected as its new president. Priest succeeds Nicola Mendelsohn, Chairman and Partner of Karmarama.

The election took place at an IPA Special Council meeting on Thursday. Priest will deliver his inaugural speech at the IPA Members’ Lunch on 17th April.

Ian graduated with a degree in Business Studies from Kingston University in 1985. He began his career at the leading below-the-line agency IMP, reaching board level before leaving to join HHCL and Partners in 1993, and becoming Managing Director in 2000.

In January 2002, alongside his three partners, he founded VCCP which joined the Chime Group in 2005. He is now on the Executive Board of Chime, heading up the business’s new ventures and international expansion.

Ian is a member of the IPA Council and a former Chairman of the IPA Value of Advertising Group as well also a non-Executive Director of a number of start-up businesses.

The appointment comes as the IPA adds four agencies to its growing membership: 383, CDM London, Innocean Worldwide and RadioWorks. This brings the total number of agencies in IPA membership to 291.

The IPA is the trade body and professional institute for over 250 UK advertising and marketing agencies which together manage media and marketing budgets valued at over £30 billion per annum.