IPA appoints Richard Casofsky as Director of Public Affairs

Starting tomorrow (1 July), Casofsky brings over 20 years’ experience as a senior government relations and corporate affairs leader, having held senior public affairs and corporate affairs roles at McDonald's, Sainsbury's, Heineken and L'Oréal, advising leadership teams on policy, regulation, corporate reputation and external affairs.

Throughout his career, Richard has worked on issues affecting advertisers and consumer brands, including advertising and marketing regulation, public health, sustainability and consumer policy. He has worked closely with government, devolved administrations, parliaments, regulators, membership organisations and industry stakeholders, as well as advertising and media agency partners, to support business, brand and reputation objectives.

In his IPA role, Richard will:

• Shape policy and regulation: Actively monitor and respond to public consultations, help to shape policies in areas such as AI, social media and other ad-related policies.
• Protect industry interests: Act as the key spokesperson for the interests of ad agencies in critical negotiations
• Elevate industry reputation: Promote the value of the advertising and marketing sector to the wider economy, championing it as a growth-driver to policymakers and countering negative public narratives. 
• Engage with relevant stakeholders: Build relationships with key political figures, civil servants, and other influential audiences.

Commenting on his appointment, Richard Casofsky said:

“Having spent more than two decades representing major consumer brands, I've seen first-hand the value that agencies create for businesses, brands and the wider economy. I look forward to working with members, colleagues and stakeholders to help strengthen engagement with government, support the industry in navigating shared opportunities and challenges, and ensure the sector's voice is heard on the issues that matter most.”

Welcoming the appointment, IPA Director General Paul Bainsfair, says:

"His appointment also comes at a time when we need to continue to work with our cross-industry counterparts to assert the value and success of our industry to leading policymakers and government.”