Gorman has sights set on more speakers

THE new chair of a membership organisation for Scotland’s marketing community is hoping to create more networking events based around an increased number of speaker events.

Mark Gorman – co-founder of ‘integrated communications agency’, 1576, and, until last September, chief executive of brand and communications outfit, IAS SMARTS – succeeds Graeme Atha as chair of the Scottish Marketing Association.

The SMA is a 20-strong members organisation backed by the media and marketing magazine, The Drum.

Gorman’s role will be to assist win more work for members.

His new role is expected to dovetail with his leading role in a new lobbying body, the Scottish Marketing Communications Action Group. It has recently called on the marketing agencies to submit their examples of world-class work, with a view to seeking some sort of support for the industry from the Scottish Executive.

“Speaker events are tangible ways of getting people to network,” says Gorman. One speaker already lined up is Brian Child, former chief executive of advertising agency, McCann-Erickson, who is speaking about buying and selling creative services.

He is speaking next Thursday.