ASA appoints new Director of Communications and Marketing

03 June 2008

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has appointed Esra Erkal-Paler as its new Director of Communications and Marketing. She takes up the post on Monday 9 June in succession to Claire Forbes who has been appointed Director of Communications for the Youth Justice Board.

Esra Erkal-Paler’s experience in corporate communications, external affairs and public relations is extensive. She was the Director of Corporate Communications and External Affairs at L’Oreal for six years. As a member of the ASA’s senior management team, Esra will oversee a communications and marketing team of nine, responsible for promoting advertising self-regulation to key stakeholders.

Of her appointment, Esra said, “I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with the ASA and to communicate the benefits of the self-regulatory system firmly and effectively at a challenging time when consumer and Government concerns about macro issues such as obesity, alcohol, gambling and marketing to children are placing increasing pressures on advertising freedoms. Equally, I am excited about playing a role in tackling the challenges of regulation of digital advertising and environmental claims.”

Of the appointment Director General of the ASA, Christopher Graham says, “Esra’s wealth of experience makes her an outstanding addition to the ASA. Her background in the corporate world, with her understanding of business and the need for social responsibility, means she fully appreciates the balance the ASA has to strike in protecting consumers whilst maintaining a level-playing field amongst competitors.”

At L’Oreal Esra established the corporate affairs strategy to promote and protect the reputation of the global health and beauty giant. As well as overseeing all group public and regulatory affairs, she also launched the company’s flagship CSR programme. Before L’Oreal, Esra was Head of UK Corporate Affairs, for Unilever’s Home and Personal Care division where she led all corporate, trade and brand communications.  Prior to moving in-house, she was Associate Director at Burson-Marsteller, leading the Unilever and BBC accounts.  Most recently Esra supported the launch and has been a member of the Leadership Board for the Ledbury Group, the thought leadership consultancy.  She is married with two children and does charity work in her spare time.