Stephen Woodford

Stephen was appointed CEO of the Advertising Association in September 2016.

The Advertising Association’s mission is to promote the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, business and the economy.

Prior to joining the AA, Stephen held management roles in four advertising agency groups (Leo Burnett, WCRS/Engine and DDB/adam&eveDDB and Next 15 plc).

He also currently chairs youth marketing agency Livity, a social purpose-driven creative business that seeks to transform young peoples’ lives, especially from BAME backgrounds.

Past Board roles include Deputy Chair of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Chairman, Changing Faces, a facial disfigurement charity. 

Stephen is also a past President of NABS, the National Advertising Benevolent Society and is on the board of the History of Advertising Trust.

He was IPA President (2003-05) where he introduced professional qualifications for new advertising industry entrants, which over 20,000 people have passed in the UK and around the world.