The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has named Uncharted co-founder Fern Miller and IPA director of effectiveness Laurence Green as co-chairs of its Excellence Diploma in Brands.

The pair were chosen for their extensive experience in strategy and innovation as well as their work across multiple marketing disciplines.

Miller and Green will oversee the qualification, which opens for applications today (29 May). The course, which begins in January, is designed to “challenge, provoke, and expand the boundaries of brand thinking”.

Subscribe to Marketing Beat for free

Sign up here to get the latest agency-related news sent straight to your inbox each morning

“With a reputation amongst former delegates as the ‘MBA of Brands’, the IPA’s Excellence Diploma is the gold standard for critical and future-focused thinking in the industry,” said Green.

Fern and I are really grateful to be building on the exceptional foundations set by Sera Holland, Amelia Torode, Nick Kendall and Stephen Woodford. I’m looking forward to working with the brightest people in our industry to shape the careers of the next generation of superstars.”

Miller added: “Chairing the IPA’s Excellence Diploma in Brands is a bit of a dream for me. I have long admired the essays and thinking that comes from the people who take part in this unique qualification, so being able to contribute to it is a real privilege. I can’t wait to see what the new breed of leaders can bring to the industry.”

IPA Excellence Diploma in Brands graduates have gone on to run agencies across the world. They include Helen Andrews, CEO of Johannes Leonardo, Genius Steals co-founder Faris Yakob, Tom Roach, VP Brand Strategy at Jellyfish and Sam d’Amato, Chief Marketing Officer of i love it.