UK
History of Advertising Trust (HAT) Appoints Four High-Profile Trustees Ahead of 50th Anniversary: The History of Advertising Trust (HAT) has announced the appointment of four distinguished industry leaders to its Board of Trustees, expanding its expertise and reach just a year before celebrating its 50th anniversary.
HAT Chair Tom Knox, of MullenLowe, explained the strategy behind the move: “At the charity’s recent AGM, we identified individuals who would complement our existing agency and institutional Trustees with experience and representation from different but important parts of the advertising industry—cinema, analytics, marketing consultancy, and law—all having the common interests of advertisers at heart. I’m thrilled to announce the appointment of Brinsley Dresden (Lewis Silkin), Kathryn Jacob (Pearl & Dean), Orlando Wood (System1), and Victoria Fox (AAR).”
Meanwhile, Rupert Earle, Shirley Watson, and Stephen Woodford are retiring after fulfilling their maximum service terms. Knox expressed heartfelt gratitude for their “long and outstanding service,” confirming that all three will remain connected with HAT as Patrons and Honorary Members.
Industry Leaders Share Their Vision
Brinsley Dresden, Partner at Lewis Silkin, highlighted the Trust’s commitment to good governance and its relevance to modern licensing challenges.
He noted, “HAT has demonstrated strong governance over the years and I’m looking forward to helping the team navigate the world of licensing at a time when consumers are developing a taste for heritage merchandise and brands are looking to protect their assets.”
Victoria Fox, CEO of AAR, emphasized the alignment between AAR’s mission and HAT’s dedication to preserving brand heritage.
She said, “We’re blessed that our industry has such an awesome resource that promotes the legacy of agencies while celebrating brand heritage. I look forward to seeing how those synergies can align for everyone’s benefit.”
Kathryn Jacob, CEO of Pearl & Dean, shared her optimism about contributing to HAT’s resilience.
“It’s an honour to join a Board of industry luminaries. HAT has shown great resilience, especially over recent years due to the pandemic and rising costs. With grants becoming scarce, I hope to bring ideas on fundraising and finding ways to make cinema advertising accessible to the archive.”
Orlando Wood, Chief Innovation Officer at System1 Group, praised HAT as a vital resource for marketers, academics, and media professionals. He said, “I’ve long admired HAT.
It’s an incredible resource for marketers and academia and a rich source of material for broadcasters and publishers, as I know from personal experience, as an author and devotee of storytelling in advertising.”
Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future
As HAT approaches its 50th anniversary, these new appointments mark a pivotal step toward preserving the advertising industry’s creative legacy while driving innovation and education for the next generation. The Trust continues to stand as a beacon for safeguarding advertising’s history, inspiring creativity, and promoting knowledge across media, agencies, and academia.
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