The trade body of UK advertisers the the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (IBSA) has appointed Simon Michaelides, interim chief customer officer of Great British Racing as the next director general.

As director general, Michaelides will be tasked with steering the strategic direction of the organisation.

He takes over from Phil Smith, who will become chairman of Origin.

Michaelides has over 27 years of commercial business experience and spent 12 years in C-Suite roles, including chief commercial officer at UKTV and chief marketing and innovation officer at BBC Studios UK.

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He said: “It’s an absolute honour to have the opportunity to lead such a prestigious organisation, and to represent and give back to an industry that I love.

“Phil Smith is an incredibly tough act to follow, but I look forward to working with the ISBA Team, the Council and the Members, to ensure that ISBA remains as relevant and impactful going forward, as it has been over the last 125 years!”

He was an ISBA council member from 2020 to 2023 and is a fellow of The Marketing Society and The Marketing Academy. He is a trustee of the Brooklands Museum, the original home of British motorsport and aviation.

Director general, Phil Smith said: “I’m thrilled that Simon has decided to be ISBA’s next Director General. He is eminently qualified and will bring fresh eyes and new energy to take ISBA forward for the benefit of its members.”

“In my new role as Chair of Origin, I’m also looking forward to working with Simon to deliver our members’ cross-media measurement agenda together”.