Annie Swift, the former publishing director of Centaur Media’s marketing and new media division, has today (June 2) joined the Institute of Sales Promotion (ISP) in the new role of chief executive.
In her previous role, which she left in February, she worked across titles including Marketing Week, New Media Age and Precision Marketing.
She comes into the role at the ISP with a clear knowledge of all of the trade associations and a brief to expand the services that the ISP offers to enable more companies from across the marketing landscape to become engaged in its work and build its influence and membership.
Clive Mishon, chairman of the ISP, said: “The brief we set ourselves in finding a new CEO was to appoint someone that already had a profile in the marketing industry who could not only provide leadership for the ISP but help change people’s perceptions of sales promotion and the ISP.
“To do this they needed the skills to effectively communicate our offering right across the industry (not to the usual suspects) and know how to make an organisation commercially successful without detracting from the integrity and independence that trade associations must maintain.
“Annie meets these requirements in all respects and, having been a customer of hers at Centaur, I know she is a formidable operator. We are very lucky to have her on board and I am particularly excited by her enthusiasm for the role.”
Swift added: “I am delighted to be taking on this position at the ISP. It is both challenging and exciting in equal measure. The sales promotion industry, regardless of channel, is a major contributor to the UK economy. Its role should never be underestimated.
“I just hope that I can do those working in the sector the justice they deserve by continuing to raise the profile of sales promotion across a variety of audiences, and by extending the benefits offered to both current and future members of the ISP.”
Swift’s appointment is the first time that the head of the ISP has held the title of chief executive. The ISP said this move was to reflect the changes in the business of trade associations that operate in a more competitive and commercial environment, so it was deemed appropriate that the lead executive of one of the oldest trades associations (which dates back to 1933) should adopt this more contemporary title.
Swift joined Centaur from Haymarket in 1989 as publisher of Creative Review and then Precision Marketing and was later appointed publisher then publishing director of Marketing Week. Her responsibilities were then extended to include oversight of Precision Marketing and New Media Age. She was part of the management team that oversaw Centaur\'s flotation on the stock market in 2004.
Her appointment follows last October’s retirement of director-general Edwin Mutton after six very successful years in the post. At the time, Mishon explained that he wanted to put in place a new management structure before making a new appointment.