Advertising Association appoints Charlie Rudd VP, Natalie Bell Front Foot Chair

The Advertising Association has announced the appointment of Charlie Rudd, Chief Executive Officer of VCCP Group, as its new Vice President. Rudd succeeds previous incumbents in a role designed to support the Association's engagement with senior industry leaders and its policy programme on responsible advertising, creative excellence, and export.

Alongside the Vice President appointment, Natalie Bell, Chief Executive Officer of M&C Saatchi UK, has been confirmed as the new Chair of Front Foot, the Advertising Association's political lobbying group. Front Foot brings together senior figures from advertising, media, and marketing businesses to make the case for the sector in Westminster, Holyrood, Cardiff, and Stormont.

Together, the two appointments refresh the leadership bench that supports Chief Executive Stephen Woodford and the Association's board. The Advertising Association has said the appointments come as the industry body prepares its 2026 policy priorities, which include export growth, advertising's contribution to UK economic output, and the ongoing work of its Ad Net Zero programme.