The ICA is accelerating its progressive agenda for agencies with the appointment of Beverley Hammond as Chair of its board.
Hammond, a founding partner & Chief Business Officer at Toronto-based agencies Broken Heart Love Affair and Lifelong Crush, will bring focus to the trade body's ambition to "shape the business environment for agencies thrive".
Ira Baptiste, who was appointed Chair in 2022, will remain on the board as Vice Chair. Baptiste, President of Evolve Agency Group, helped to steer the ICA and its members towards a post-Covid growth period with new impetus gained through the rebranding of the industry body.
Hammond's appointment as Chair sees her bring more than 30 years of successful leadership and business experience to the role. Prior to her current agency post, she founded empathy marketing agency, Republic, and spent 12 years as President & CEO, then Chair of Veritas Communications where she transformed the agency into one of Canada’s leading marketing communications firms.
As the first female Chair of the Board of Special Olympics Canada, Hammond oversaw the only restructure of the organization’s national governance in its 40-year history. She is one of the founders of the G(irls)20 Global Summit and has been a member of its Global Advisory Board. She has also served as a Director on the Board of the LCBO and on multiple not for profit Boards.
In a further move, the ICA board gains a new member in Devon MacDonald, President of Cairns Oneil, the full-service media agency. MacDonald has a strong background in technology, creative and media, and was previously Chief Executive of Mindshare Canada.
Otherwise the board remains unchanged, with Hammond and MacDonald joining current members that reflect the range and diversity of Canada's agency sector: Julien Bissuel, Forsman & Bodenfors; Brett Channer, Mass Minority; Scott Knox, ICA; Andy Krupski, Hive; Lorri MacDonald, Diamond; Melody MacPherson, LPi Group; Greg Power, Weber Shandwick; Eve Rémillard Larose, TBWAGroup; Ania Russocki, Pigeon; Ryan Timms, McCann Canada; and Emma Toth, VML.
Beverley Hammond said:
As an agency owner, I’m inspired by the new ICA commitment to positively shape the business environment for ALL agencies in Canada to thrive. There is, of course, a wide variety of agency types, structures, and sizes across our sector but for all of our differences, there are more opportunities and challenges that we share, and I’m keen to get after these from an industry wide perspective, to support the growth of robust creative enterprises across Canada.
Devon MacDonald said:
The media ecosystem has so much value to provide advertisers in Canada. It needs support though from agencies to improve transparency and consumer trust, while navigating an incredibly complex future. The role our clients play with media beyond marketing is becoming more and more technology focused - and they need our help. I'm excited to be working with the ICA and my fellow board members to help the industry and clients pave a positive path for growing the market and our capabilities.
Scott Knox, President & CEO of the ICA, said:
I'm delighted that Beverley is stepping into the vital role of Chair. The vibrant diversity of Canada's agency sector will benefit hugely from her vast experience, energy, and passion. She's the perfect board leader to help members thrive. I'd also like to say a big thank you to Ira for her two years of transformational leadership of the board. The ICA and Canada's agencies have taken great strides forward in that time and it's fantastic news that she remains a key part of the board as Vice Chair.
