Elizabeth Filkin to lead new Advertising Advisory Committee

27 October 2004

The AAC will advise the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) - the advertising industry body that will assume responsibility for the broadcast advertising codes on 1st November 2004. On this date, Ofcom will contract-out responsibility for the broadcast advertising Codes to BCAP, and for receiving and resolving complaints about TV and radio commercials to the ASA. The AAC's role will be to provide independent, third party advice to BCAP on issues relating to the broadcast codes.

Elizabeth Filkin, who will take up her post in November, is currently Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Post-Shipman Group and is a member of the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the Financial Services Authority. From 1999 - 2002 she was the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Previously she was a Commissioner for the Audit Commission, The Adjudicator for the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise and Chief Executive of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. Her first task in her new role will be to recruit the other independent lay members of the AAC.

Welcoming Elizabeth Filkin to her new role, Lord Borrie said: "As the advertising industry takes responsibility for the rules that control TV and radio commercials, the Advertising Advisory Committee will ensure the consumer's voice is heard. I know that Elizabeth Filkin will prove an effective and eloquent advocate for those who the rules are there to protect - the viewers and the listeners."