The IPA has named Rich Elwell, Owner and Creative Partner at One Black Bear, as the new IPA City Head for Birmingham and the Midlands. Rich succeeds Penny Took in the role.
As City Head, Rich will serve as a figurehead and voice for the industry in the area, championing the outstanding talent in the advertising community and driving collaboration, thought leadership and engagement.
He will also work closely with the other IPA City Heads and the Chairs for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on wider industry issues and IPA initiatives, including IPA President Karen Martin’s agenda to celebrate the contribution creativity makes to business success, the economy and UK culture.
Commenting on the appointment:
Rich Elwell, Owner and Creative Partner at One Black Bear and IPA City Head for Birmingham and the Midlands:
“In recent years, I’ve been concerned that advertising is losing its way, and believe that putting creativity front and centre is the only way for our industry to prosper in a cluttered landscape. I’m therefore thrilled to be the new IPA City Head for Birmingham and the Midlands and to be able to support Karen’s agenda to celebrate creativity and help us regain our collective swagger.
“Over the past 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with many fantastically talented people in the area and can’t wait to help champion their brilliant creativity and incredible work that they produce for their clients."
Great work can be, and is, available outside of London and I’m excited to be working with the IPA and our community in the Midlands to showcase the game changing excellence we produce for clients.
Tom Mott, Director of Membership, IPA:
“I’m delighted to welcome Rich as our new City Head for Birmingham and the Midlands. We strive to put our members at the heart of everything we do, and I am looking forward to be working with Rich over the coming weeks and months to ensure we are supporting, celebrating and elevating our thriving agency community around Birmingham and the Midlands.”
Find out more about IPA Chairs and City Heads
Rich Elwell biography:
Rich has based his entire advertising career in Birmingham, working alongside his longstanding art director and business partner, Jon Harrison, for 35 years. Now, that must be a contender for longest creative partnership still working in the UK, right?
Starting out as a junior copywriter at Wallis Tomlinson in 1994, within five years Rich & Jon were appointed Creative Directors and presided over an awards laden period that culminated in WT being awarded agency of the decade by The Drum. When WT was purchased by a rival agency in the early 2000's , Rich helped to create One Black Bear - a proudly creative-led agency that carried on where WT left off.
Today, One Black Bear prides itself on producing the very best strategic and creative work outside of London, often working with large, European and global brands who favour a boutique approach rather than a large, fragmented network.
The OBB mantra of 'Be Fierce' summarises the agency's approach to creating stand out, impactful work that makes our clients all the more successful.
Last updated 19 October 2026