Mark Roy named as new DMA Data Council Chair

Mark Roy has been named as the newly-elected Chair of the Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Data Council after Council members recently conducted a ballot to replace outgoing Chair Tony Lamb.

Mr Roy, CEO of The REaD Group plc and a member of the DMA Data Council since 2006, will formally accept his Chairmanship at the Council's next meeting in May. Caroline Kimber, Head of Data Planning at DM agency Stephens Francis Whitson, has likewise been elected as the Council's new Vice Chair. Both will serve a three-year term.

"I believe that I can make a real difference to the Data Council's effectiveness as a respected peak body," said Mr Roy from The REaD Group's Sevenoaks office.

"I look forward to working with my Council colleagues to identify both current and future core challenges, set goals and devise strategy for the best way forward so that the Council's aims and objectives can be successfully actioned. The Data Council is, after all, graced with some of the best data minds in the country, so I intend to do my utmost to ensure that the wider data industry both recognises and respects that."

Adds Vice Chair Caroline Kimber:

"In the current economic climate, pressure on budgets means that using data creatively and intelligently will be more important than ever before. As Vice Chair, I see my role as focusing the knowledge of such an experienced team of practitioners into initiatives that strengthen the strategic value and influence of data and really drive our industry forward."

The DMA's Data Council provides DMA members with thought leadership and drives policy development within the data sphere. Drawing upon the expertise of the Council members, it is instrumental in producing best practice guidelines for data usage in multi-channel communications; houses a think tank for forecasting new industry developments to help members 'future proof' their businesses; generates original research and benchmarking reports; and hosts regular data-themed training sessions and events.