IQ Partners Recruits CEO for Institute of Communication Agencies

September 12, 2016 – Executive search firm IQ Partners has placed Scott Knox as president and chief executive officer of the Institute of Communication Agencies.

The combined position is new for the organization. Its previous CEO, Gillian Graham, resigned last March, while former president Jani Yates left the ICA in May to lead Advertising Standards Canada. It was after that departure that a decision was made to combine the office. The ICA’s executive search committee, board and IQ Partners then put together a search mandate that led to Mr. Knox being chosen after more than 500 people applied for the position.

Mr. Knox comes from the managing director role at the Marketing Agencies Association (MAA) in London and Bath in the U.K. While there, he quadrupled the group’s agency members and significantly grew its revenue through that membership growth, new tools, training and awards. He also co-founded PrideAM, an organization for LGBTQ members of the industry.

Unanimous Choice

Earlier this year, he was shortlisted for Leader of the Year by the Association Excellence Awards UK and ranked 23rd on the “Out at Work” list on The Telegraph’s Top 50 Most Influential LGBT Business Executives.

“After much review and deliberation by the Committee, our choice was unanimous,” said Penny Stevens, chair of the 2016 board of directors and president of Media Experts. “It takes a very special type of person with specific skills and a bold vision to lead a not-for-profit, create value and be heard on a global stage. We’re confident in our choice of Scott to lead the ICA in its next phase of transformation and growth, to an exciting new level for the future.”

“We’re excited to be at a pivotal moment of change for the ICA and its members, and we’re confident that Scott has the credentials, capabilities and contacts to steer us into a new phase of transformation, growth and success on an international level,” added Paul Reilly, 2016 board co-chair and COO, BBDO Toronto.

“Globally, the agency sector needs defending and re-energizing and the sector should expect to be challenged and supported in equal measure,” he said. “Clients and the business sector need to be re-told the agency value story and why collaboration and trust is key. This role is also an opportunity to rewrite the rules. Non-profit shouldn’t exclude shrewd commerciality, a trade body shouldn’t exclude innovation and strong leadership shouldn’t exclude collaboration.”

ICA is a professional business association which represents Canada’s communication and advertising agencies. Its mission is to champion commercial creativity, amplify the industry’s economic impact, and to embrace and drive change. As such, the ICA promotes thought leadership, higher standards and best practices. It serves as the largest source of information, advice, education and training for Canada’s communication and advertising industry.

With offices in Toronto and Vancouver, IQ Partners is an executive search firm focused on the marketing, consumer goods, sales, HR, IT, accounting & finance, mining & engineering, financial services & insurance sectors. Its clients include, among others, TripAdvisor; Oculus Info; Isobar Canada; Just Eat; Pita Pit; VMC Group; and TC Media.

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