GroupM’s Europe, Middle East and Africa chief executive Dominic Grainger has been elected president of the European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA) for a two year tenure.
Grainger, who is the first media agency executive to be made president of the Brussels-based group, succeeds Grey Group EMEA president and chief executive officer David Patton.
During his term, Grainger aims to reinforce the enduring and positive contribution of commercial communications to European economies and address the growing digital skills need within the commercial communications sector.
“Digital technologies have created enormous changes in how consumers entertain and inform themselves, how they communicate and how brands communicate to them; and Europe has some of the most digitally advanced markets in the world,” said Grainger.
“Opportunities enabled by digital have brought innumerable challenges for media owners, for businesses engaging consumers and also for government regulators,” he added.
“Communications agencies of every ilk can play an important role in developing these opportunities and there has never been a more exciting time to work in this industry. EACA is an important and influential player in Brussels, closely engaged in a wide range of policy considerations and regulatory investigations concerning commercial communications.
“I am honoured to serve during this complex and dynamic period, supporting sensible regulatory decision-making and working together to protect the interests of our members with decision-makers at the European Commission in Brussels.”
EACA director general Dominic Lyle feels that, from his media agency experience, Grainger will be particularly useful at tackling issues like online ad fraud, data privacy and viewable impressions.
In order to bolster the digital talent entering the industry, Grainger will build on existing EACA training programmers, as well as working to increase the profile of the commercial communications sector in Europe.
Grainger was promoted to chief executive officer of GroupM EMEA in 2008, having served as managing director since 2006, with experience at WPP’s CIA and MEC.
