ASA Chairman, Lord Smith has announced the appointment of two new independent Council members, Suzanne McCarthy and Wesley Henderson. The ASA Council is the body responsible for making rulings under the UK Advertising Codes.

Suzanne is the UK's Immigration Services Commissioner and Wesley is Independent Assessor with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.

The ASA Council is formed of two-thirds independent and one-third industry members. Collectively, the members offer a wide range of skills and experiences, representing the perspectives of a wide cross section of society, including young people, families and charities. The new members will judge both broadcast and non-broadcast advertisements.

Of the appointments, Lord Smith said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Suzanne and Wesley to the ASA Council. Their experience and expertise in diverse roles across a range of sectors make them well equipped to analyse and judge the often competing and complex debates surrounding advertising, and that make being a Council member such a varied and fascinating role.”

They will take up their positions on Friday 17 April and replace Ruth Sawtell and Anthony Wilkes who have served their maximum appointed term of six years.

About our new Council members:

Suzanne McCarthy

Suzanne is the UK's Immigration Services Commissioner, has held a number of senior public sector positions and is currently Chairman of both Depaul UK and the General Chiropractic Council. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of London, and a Non Executive Director of the Senet Group, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors UK and Ireland Regulatory Board and the Human Tissue Authority.

Wesley Henderson

Wesley is a retired Director of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. He is currently an Independent Assessor with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland and a Lay Representative for the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency. He is also a Public Director with the Lagan Canal Trust, a Member of Mutual Energy and an Education Speaker for Cats Protection, the national animal charity.

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