~Virgin Chief Brand Officer to continue drive for gender equality in advertising and communications~
Lisa Thomas, Chief Brand Officer for the Virgin Group, has today been appointed as the President of Women in Advertising and Communications, London (WACL).
WACL is an industry networking organisation that brings together the most senior female leaders in advertising, marketing and communications. Members are drawn from brands, media owners, advertising and media agencies, as well as other industry businesses. Their purpose is to accelerate gender equality in the industry through inspiration, support, and campaigning for change.
WACL also works to inspire female talent via Gather, the organisation’s annual conference, quarterly mentoring sessions, and by offering training bursaries via WACL’s Future Leaders Award to aid women in achieving their potential. The organisation also raises significant money for NABS, the charity that champions the well-being of the industry’s people, and regularly holds prestigious speaker dinners and events for the enjoyment of members and their guests, all in support of WACL’s purpose.
Last year WACL played a key role in the creation of the timeTo industry code of conduct on sexual harassment, with over 225 companies signing up to this over the past year.
Lisa Thomas, President of WACL and Chief Brand Officer at Virgin, said:
“At a time when the world and industry are becoming more receptive to the fact that the dial needs to move on gender balance, I’m delighted to take on the presidency of WACL. The organisation is at a fascinating point in its history, transitioning from being a networking body into a purpose-led, campaigning organisation, hungry for change. Working with such a ground-breaking and talented group of women, we will be in a pivotal position to influence representation norms and shift attitudes and perceptions for the future.”
For more information visit www.virgin.com.
About Lisa Thomas
Lisa is the Chief Brand Officer at Virgin Group. She joined in February 2016 from M&C Saatchi Group where she served as UK CEO. Lisa is responsible for overseeing the global Virgin brand and managing relationships with more than 60 Virgin businesses in over 35 countries. Lisa is also Managing Director of Virgin Enterprises Limited, which manages commercial activities and brand licences, and sits on the boards of Virgin StartUp and Virgin Group Loyalty Company. Lisa is President of WACL (Women in Advertising & Communications London) – an industry networking organisation that brings together senior female leaders in marketing and communications, with the purpose of accelerating gender equality. Lisa graduated from Cambridge in French and Spanish.
About Virgin Group
Virgin is a leading international investment group and one of the world’s most recognised and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors including mobile telephony, travel & transportation, financial services, leisure & entertainment and health & wellness.
About WACL
WACL is a club for women leaders whose purpose is to accelerate gender equality in communications and marketing. To deliver this we focus inspiration, support and campaigning via events like Gather, training bursaries via our Future Leaders Award and campaigns. We also raise money for NABS, the charity that champions the well-being of people in the advertising and media industry. The WACL membership includes some of the most powerful and pioneering women in business in the UK. Members include EasyJet CEO Dame Carolyn McCall, Facebook vice president Nicola Mendelsohn, chairman of Children in Need Stevie Spring, MUMSNET founder Justine Roberts and Kathryn Jacob, chairman of Pearl & Dean Cinemas.
WACL is a club for women leaders whose purpose is to accelerate gender equality in communications and marketing by focusing on activities that inspire, support, and campaign for change. It brings together the most senior female leaders in marketing and communications with members drawn from brands, media owners, advertising and media agencies, and other industry businesses.
