UK Appoints Nick Lawson as Chair for Digital Media Organization i-media
In a significant move, Nick Lawson, the renowned media industry veteran, has been appointed as the chairman of i-media, a leading data, technology, and programmatic outdoor solutions company based in the United Kingdom. This appointment comes after Lawson's successful tenure as the global chief executive at EssenceMediacom, part of WPP, where he transformed the company into WPP's largest global media agency network.
Over the course of 34 years, Lawson has been instrumental in evolving Mediacom from a small independent UK media agency into a global powerhouse, managing over $32 billion in billings across 98 offices in 45 markets worldwide[1]. His leadership in business development, marketing, and product innovation has significantly expanded the scale and capabilities of WPP’s global media operations.
Lawson's impact on WPP's media agency landscape is undeniable. He played a pivotal role in growing Mediacom into WPP's biggest media agency network globally, leading innovation in media business development and product offerings, and steering EssenceMediacom as global CEO before moving to strategic advisory roles.
In his new role at i-media, Lawson will leverage his deep industry expertise to drive growth and further integrate data-driven solutions into the company's offerings. i-media is currently experiencing rapid expansion, following an investment by Mayfair Equity Partners in 2024.
Jonathan Lewis, i-media's CEO, is thrilled about Lawson's appointment and believes his rich experience and leadership will fuel the next stage of the company's journey. i-media provides advertisers with access to U.K. motorists across more than 130 roadside locations, reaching an average of 6.6 million weekly visitors and more than 31 million unique visitors annually.
Lawson acknowledges the rapidly growing opportunity in programmatic OOH (out of home) advertising and is delighted to join a company at the forefront of this change. He praises i-media as one of the U.K.'s most innovative media owners and expresses his eagerness to work with Lewis and the i-media team.
Sources: [1] WPP Annual Report 2020:
In his new position at i-media, Nick Lawson, with his extensive industry expertise, aims to propel growth by integrating data-driven solutions further into the company's offerings, given the increasing opportunity in programmatic OOH advertising. Having been instrumental in expanding WPP's media operations through business development, marketing, and product innovation, Lawson's leadership in finance and business is expected to drive significant returns for i-media, especially in light of the company's recent expansion following an investment by Mayfair Equity Partners.
