RLA Group has announced the appointment of Stephen Roycroft as the new Managing Director of RLA Ireland, following the retirement of Ian Erwin after a 25-year tenure.

Stephen joinsRLA from Ardmore Advertising, where he held the position of Deputy Managing Director and spent 18years helping to grow the Agency. During his time at Ardmore, Stephen worked across the Agency's key accounts, including Translink, Coca-Cola and Subway and helped secure its current position in Campaign's top 50 regional agencies in the UK.

Stephen said: "I intend to make RLA Ireland feel and behave more like the strong brand that it is elsewhere in the UK. It's time for RLA to think big. We are a Belfast-based full service Agency, with a highly experienced team and with unique connections to a major marketing and communications Plc. That makes us indispensable in what we do for Clients."

Stephen is currently Chair of the Northern Ireland Group of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) and has a seat on the national IPA Council in London. He has authored several IPA Effectiveness Awards, been a guest lecturer at both UUJ and Queens University; and is a regular contributor to business periodicals.

RLA is part of The Mission Marketing Group plc (the mission™), the national marketing communications and advertising group including Addiction, April-Six, balloon dog, Bray Leino, Big Communications, Proof, Robson Brown, ThinkBDW, Solaris, Story and Yucca.

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