Immediate past president of the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG), Joel Nettey made history on Tuesday as he was elected Senior Vice President of the International Advertising Association (IAA), the first African to hold such a position.

Until his election at a meeting in Bucharest, Joel was the Vice President for External Communications for the IAA.

This ground-breaking feat also means Joel Nettey will automatically assume the role of Chairman and World President of the global advertising body, once new president, India’s Srinivasan Swamy’s tenure expires in two years.

Srinivasan Swamy takes over from Romania’s Felix Tataru to lead a team of 25 Executive Committee members from various countries including Ghana, USA, Malaysia, Netherlands, UAE, Poland, Australia, UK, Italy, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Austria, Kuwait, Iran, India and Nepal.

The International Advertising Association is an 80-year old institution and considered the most prestigious advertising body of its kind in the world. The IAA is acknowledged as the world’s most influential network of marketing and communication leaders, aimed at representing the common interests of all the disciplines across the full spectrum of marketing communications – from advertisers to media companies to agencies to direct marketing firms, as well as individual practitioners. Its activities involve professional development of marketing communication practitioners, protecting freedom of commercial speech, advertising self-regulation, protecting consumer interest, training and education.