Surrey-based specialist technology agency AD Communications has expanded its team with the recruitment of experienced account lead Ailsa Herd.

Reporting to agency director Shireen Shurmer, Ailsa will lead integrated campaign work for FESPA, covering the organisation’s global portfolio of exhibitions serving the wide-format imaging marketplace, as well as its community reinvestment activity. Previous AD Communications campaigns for FESPA have been instrumental in the year-on-year growth of international visitor audiences to FESPA events. Ailsa’s first key campaign will be for FESPA Digital 2012 which takes place in Barcelona from 21-24 February 2012. The campaign features the now-iconic FESPA Digital Man, this time facing a choice of interesting routes to pursue on his digital journey, under a strapline which challenges printers to “Explore the Wider Opportunities”. In her previous PR agency roles, Ailsa led on a wide range of consumer issues and CSR-based campaigns for brands including Morrisons supermarket, Save the Honey Bee for Rowse Honey, the BT diversity and HR programmes, The Children's Society and The Cystic Fibrosis Trust. She has also worked in-house as head of PR for international equine charity, the Brooke in a 12-month interim role in 2010. AD Communications is the leading international marketing and communications agency in the print and packaging arena. The agency has an enviable list of national and international brands in its portfolio, and the team is expanding to handle account growth, and ahead of a range of flagship events in the agency’s major sectors during 2012.

Shireen Shurmer comments: “It’s a very exciting time for AD Communications and we have been looking for a motivated and dynamic senior PR professional to join our established team. Ailsa has a considerable background in consumer PR and has delivered highly successful and award-winning campaigns. We believe that her creativity and client focus will make her a great addition to AD Communications, and that her expertise outside our traditional markets will help to broaden our horizons and drive our business forward.” Ailsa says: “I feel that the mix of clients and the vibrant people I am working with at AD Communications are perfect. I’m very excited to be joining AD at this stage in its development and am already enjoying the brief on FESPA Digital 2012, and looking forward to engaging with the international media in FESPA’s sector later this month at their pre-exhibition press event in Barcelona. It’s a stimulating start to the role.”