Following formal ratification by the ABC Council, Sally Cartwright (pictured) will join the organisation in February 2010. She will replace John Mayhead, who has held the position since 2000 and has reached the end of his allotted term.
Cartwright joins from Hello! Magazine where she has held the position of Director at Large since 2007, and before that Publishing Director since 1990. Cartwright’s extensive background within the publishing sector includes posts as Managing Director of Harmsworth Magazines and Publisher of a number of IPC titles, including Ideal Home and Homes & Gardens.
Throughout her career, Cartwright has held a number of chairmanships with some of the magazine and newspaper industry’s most well regarded trade bodies. Most recently she was Chairman of the Joint Industry Group, the self regulatory body which includes the Newspaper Publishers Association and the Periodical Publishers Association (PPA). In 2007, she was invited to join the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) as a Council member representing all print media. Other honours include Chairmanship of the PPA from 1999 – 2000. She was the first woman to hold this post.
Cartwright’s consistent track record of achievement has led to a number of high profile accolades. In 2001, she was awarded an OBE for services to the magazine industry, followed by the Marcus Morris Award in 2007, the magazine industry’s most prestigious honour.
Jerry Wright, Chief Executive, ABC comments: “Sally’s unrivalled understanding of the publishing sector, combined with her broad experience as Chairman for various industry groups, quickly convinced the selection panel of her suitability for this vital role. As the independent, industry owned print and digital auditor, with Council members from trade associations representing publishers, agencies and advertisers, ABC is delighted to appoint someone with Sally’s breadth of knowledge and understanding of all these areas. We very much look forward to her joining us in the New Year.”
Sally Cartwright OBE, adds: “Having worked in the publishing industry throughout my career, I have always believed that ABC offers the gold standard in terms of reliable and trusted data. Now, as the organisation continues to evolve to meet the wider needs of the print and digital media industry, I look forward to working with ABC during this exciting period of change.”
About ABC & ABCe
ABC says: “ABC is a non-profit distributing organisation owned by the media industry, tasked with promoting trust by providing robust currencies on which to trade media in the UK and Ireland. ABC certifies and provides audit services to verify the circulation figures of newspapers and magazines, attendance at exhibitions and performance data across a wide range of digital media (including websites and email) through ABCe.
ABC is governed by a Council of permanent and elected representatives including media owners, media buyers, advertisers and representatives from industry trade bodies. Any changes to Reporting Standards are instigated and agreed on by these industry representatives including ISBA, IPA, PPA, NS and NPA, to ensure the needs of the media industry are met.
ABCe’s role is to manage standards for the online industry through its work with JICWEBS, the Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards, and to provide credibility, comparability and transparency for digital media.
ABC was first established in the UK in 1931, is a leading founder member of the International Federation of ABC’s (IFABC), and is one of the largest media audit bodies in the world. ABCe was established in 1996 and delivers global measurement standards for local markets through its work as Chair of the IFABC web standards group."
