It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dame Annette King earlier this week. Annette was an important influential and much respected figure in our industry and a true leader who played a key role in shaping the work of our trade association on behalf of our members.
During her tenure as Chair of the AA from 2022 to 2024, Annette was always generous with her time and expertise, drawing on her prominent roles as CEO of Publicis Groupe UK and later as Global Lead at Accenture Song.
She became our Chair during a period of immense global and domestic uncertainty. She helped steer the industry through a “perfect storm” of headwinds, expertly navigating the economic pressures brought on by the war in Ukraine, global supply chain issues, and the cost-of-living crisis. Despite these challenges, she was always a passionate champion for the sector, consistently advocating for the power of advertising to be a driver for positive change and societal benefit.
Annette firmly believed that the advertising industry serves as a “barometer for the overall health of the economy”. Under her guidance as Chair, and as a key member of the AA Board and Council, we stepped up our engagement with the Government to underscore advertising’s vital role in helping the UK economy to recover from the impact of Covid-19, and other factors.
Her huge contributions to the business and creative worlds were formally recognised when she was awarded a Damehood in 2023, a milestone that we proudly celebrated together at the President’s Reception that July.
One such example of Annette’s passionate advocacy for our industry was when she spoke at LEAD 2024, our industry summit, on the topic of public trust in advertising and the vital importance of our self-regulatory system.
Dame Annette King will be remembered not only for her sharp business acumen and leadership during turbulent times, but for her unwavering belief in our industry’s ability to harness its creativity for the greater good.
