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Mark Lund appointed as COI Chief Executive

CAB008/09
18 February 2009

Mark Lund, CEO of Delaney Lund Knox Warren (DLKW) and Chairman of the Advertising Association has been appointed Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI). Mark will succeed Alan Bishop, who left COI in January 2009, and will join the organisation in June.

Mark will direct, manage and develop COI which has an international reputation for the provision and procurement of marketing and communications services. He will be responsible for meeting the annual targets set by the Cabinet Office, and for ensuring that COI achieves maximum communications effectiveness and best possible value for money for government.

The Chief Executive of COI additionally acts as the Government's Chief Adviser on Marketing Communications. Mark will be tasked with strengthening the co-ordination and planning of government campaigns and improving the exchange of best practice.

Liam Byrne, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Lund as Chief Executive of COI.

“COI has a key role to play in driving forward innovations in the way Government communicates, such as using new insights on behaviour change to maximise our reach and punch.

“This work is more vital than ever during the global economic downturn because people and businesses across Britain need to know what Government is doing to fight back against the downturn, what help is available and where to find it.”

Mark Lund commented:

“It is a great privilege to be appointed Chief Executive of COI. I believe very strongly in the importance of the COI's work and have always found the challenges involved in developing its campaigns fascinating.

“I look forward to working closely with Peter Buchanan COI's Deputy Chief Executive, the Management Board and all COI's hardworking and talented staff in developing COI's capability”.

For media enquiries and images, please contact Tracey Cobbett at COI on 0207 261 8763.

Notes to Editors

• Mark Lund has been appointed to the role following an open competition managed by the Cabinet Office. As is usual for posts at this level, the selection panel was chaired by the Civil Service Commissioners to ensure fair and open competition.
• The Central Office of Information (COI) is the Government's centre of excellence for marketing and communications. COI works with government departments and the public sector to produce information campaigns on issues that affect the lives of every citizen - from health and education to benefits, rights and welfare.
• COI was established as a government department in 1946. Since 1984 it has charged for its services, and in 1990 it became an executive agency and in 1991 a trading fund which is required to recover the majority of its costs. Since 1992 it has reported to Cabinet Office Ministers, and is given annual ministerial targets to meet.
• COI has around 700 staff and in 2007/8 had a turnover of £391million.
• Mark will report to Cabinet Office ministers and the Permanent Secretary Government Communications.
• Mark Lund Biography
  Mark read English and Philosophy at Bristol University. He began his career in advertising as an Account Management Trainee working on ice cream and frozen food at Lintas. He then spent six years at Collett Dickenson Pearce, where he rose through the ranks to become an Account Group Head. In 1990 he joined Euro: RSCG as Director of International Development. In 1992 Mark rejoined the Lintas network, working for both Lintas Worldwide and Still Price Lintas in London, as head of account management. Mark then joined Delaney Fletcher Bozell in 1995 as Managing Director. In 2000 he, and his partner Greg Delaney, led a management buy out to form Delaney Lund Knox Warren, where he became Group Chief Executive responsible for all the companies in the DLKW group. He sits on the Council of the IPA and is a governor of the History of Advertising Trust. He is also currently Chairman of the Advertising Association