Michaelides (pictured) will take up his new role later this year and is currently interim chief customer officer of Great British Racing, and has prior experience working at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo.

In addition, Michaelides has held senior roles including chief commercial officer at UKTV, chief marketing and innovation officer at BBC Studios UK, and chief customer and strategy officer at Riviera Travel, as well as serving as an ISBA council member from 2020 to 2023.

The appointment comes as Smith departs to become chairman at UK cross-media measurement platform Origin, following eight years at ISBA.

As director general at ISBA, Michaelides will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation. 

ISBA president Pete Markey commented: “I am delighted that Simon will be leading ISBA as the next director general. He has a wealth of experience across a range of sectors and an impressive track record of driving businesses forward.

“He is passionate about the marketing industry making him exactly the right person to lead ISBA as it continues to represent the voice of advertisers. I am really looking forward to working with Simon and am sure ISBA’s future is in very safe hands.” 

Smith said: “I’m thrilled that Simon has decided to be ISBA’s next director general. He is eminently qualified and will bring fresh eyes and new energy to take ISBA forward for the benefit of its members.

“In my new role as chair of Origin, I’m also looking forward to working with Simon to deliver our members’ cross-media measurement agenda together.”

Michaelides added: “It’s an absolute honour to have the opportunity to lead such a prestigious organisation, and to represent and give-back to an industry that I love.

“Phil is an incredibly tough act to follow, but I look forward to working with the ISBA team, the council and the members, to ensure that ISBA remains as relevant and impactful going forward, as it has been over the last 125 years.”