Research and customer leaders among IPA New Year Honours

The IPA’s New Year Honours celebrate ‘advertising industry greats’ for their service and for raising the reputation of the sector.

Belinda Beeftink (pictured) retired from her role as research director at the IPA at the end of 2024. She joined the organisation in 2007, responsible for running the TouchPoints survey, and became research director in 2018.

Catherine Kehoe joined Nationwide a year ago, and prior to that spent 15 years at Lloyds Banking Group. In 2024, she chaired the judging panel for the IPA Effectiveness Awards.

Matt Hill has spent 10 years as director of research and planning at Thinkbox, and is set to begin a new role at Sky Media as director of insight and measurement.

Also receiving an honorary fellowship is Keith Weed, former chief marketing and communications officer at Unilever.

The IPA also awarded fellowships to Chris Byron, chief commercial officer, Omnicom Media Group; Annie Gallimore, managing director, TBWA London and Josh Krichefski, chief executive, GroupM Emea and IPA president.

The individuals will be issued an IPA fellowship (FIPA) or honorary fellowship (Hon. FIPA) at the IPA President’s Reception on Thursday 9th January.

IPA director general Paul Bainsfair said: “It is always special to announce the IPA New Year Honours as it is our chance to honour and recognise the extraordinary contributions that key individuals have made to the advertising industry.”