Public Member Appointments to the ASCB

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 11 February 2009

Public Member Appointments to the Advertising Standards Complaints Board

The Chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority, Rick Osborne, announced today the appointment and reappointment of a number of public members to the Advertising Standards Complaints Board (ASCB). The Complaints Board meets monthly to adjudicate on complaints from consumers about advertising.

Mr Osborne said that “the new public members were appointed after a public call for applications to join the ASCB.” A significant number of applications were received and the appointments panel noted the high calibre of candidates”. The four other members on the nine member Complaints Board represent advertisers, advertising agencies and the media.

The new Chairman of the Complaints Board, Jenny Robson, from Palmerston North, has been appointed for a three year term. Ms Robson, a lawyer, has extensive experience in dispute resolution, has been a member of the Complaints Board for nine years and has a broad knowledge of advertising standards.

Mr Philip Broughton, a Partner in the business advisor firm, Polson Higgs, in Dunedin, and a public member of the Complaints Board has been appointed as Deputy Chairman.

Two other public members have been reappointed for a further three years each. Dr Greg Simmons, a public health physician currently seconded to the Ministry of Health will serve a second term and Margaret McKee, Chief Executive of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, following two terms as an alternate public member has now been appointed as a full member.

Two new public members have joined the Complaints Board. Mr Alex Handiside, Youth Development Manager at Hutt City Council has been appointed as a full public member and Susan Taylor, Deputy Banking Ombudsman, as an alternate public member. Both appointment terms are for three years.

“The ASA is very pleased with the breadth of experience and expertise the public and industry members bring to the Board table in support of appropriate advertising standards”, Mr Osborne said.

Advertising Standards Complaints Appeal Board

The ASA is also pleased to confirm the reappointment of two public members of the Advertising Standards Complaints Appeal Board. Euan Abernethy, former Chairman of the Securities Commission, and Chairperson of the Appeal Board has been appointed for a further three year term, and Judi Jones, Electricity and Gas Complaints Commissioner has been appointed as an Appeal Board member for a further three years. “The considerable experience that these public members bring to the Appeal Board is invaluable”, said Mr Osborne.

(For more details see www.asa.co.nz)

ENDS

The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory body responsible for advertising standards in New Zealand across all media. It also administers the Advertising Standards Complaints Board, which provides a complaints service for the public to complain about advertising.

The following organisations are members of the ASA.

Association of New Zealand Advertisers, Communication Agencies Association of New Zealand, Interactive Advertising Bureau, Letterbox Media, Magazine Publishers' Association (Inc), Newspaper Publishers' Association of New Zealand (Inc), New Zealand Cinema Advertising Council, New Zealand Community Newspapers, New Zealand Marketing Association (Inc), New Zealand Post, New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council, Outdoor Advertising Association of New Zealand, Pay TV Group and Radio Broadcasters’ Association (Inc)

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