IPSO appoints two new board members

The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) has added a lay member, Claire Singers, and an industry member, Mike Soutar, to its board.

Singers has 30 years of experience as a public relations consultant. She was managing director and joint owner of entertainment specialist PR firm LD Communications. She has worked with artists such as Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones, and has been involved in music events such as Live 8 and Live Earth.

Soutar has more than 30 years of experiences as a publisher in the magazine sector. He is the chairman and co-founder of Shortlist Media, the brand behind titles such as Stylist, Emerald Street and ShortList.

Singers and Soutar,who will join the board in December, were appointed by the independent IPSO Appointments Panel, chaired by former British civil servant, Sir Hayden Phillips. They replace Richard Reed and the late Kevin Hand.

Sir Alan Moses, PSO chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome Claire Singers and Mike Soutar to the IPSO Board. A regulator needs an effective board to advise, prompt and oversee and in Claire and Mike we have two excellent appointments to further strengthen our organisation.

“I would like to put on record my thanks to Richard Reed and the late Kevin Hand for their important contribution to the first two years of IPSO. Richard’s experience in creating a world class company was invaluable to the board as we set up our structures while Kevin provided wise counsel and guidance that we continue to miss following his untimely passing.”

Singers added: “I love news, I love newspapers and having worked in public relations since the ’80s, am an avid consumer of both. I’m looking forward to joining the IPSO Board and playing a part in the independent and rigorous regulation of the UK press.”

Soutar commented: “I’ve witnessed a lot of changes in the UK magazine sector over the course of my career, but there has been one constant throughout – that robust self-regulation is key to its continuing success. I’m looking forward to playing a role in that regulation as an IPSO board member.”