Executive committee

20 March 2009

Governance of the AIB rests with the Executive Committee, a group of six people elected every other year by the membership.

The current members were elected in 2008 and their term lasts until the end of 2009.

The AIB Chief Executive also takes part in AIB Executive Committee meetings.

Current members:

Erlends Calabuig Director, Foreign Languages Radio France Internationale

Allen Cooper Consultant Intermedia UK

Adelheid Feilcke-Tiemann Director International Relations Deutsche Welle

Jill Grinda Director Global Distribution euronews

Jan Hoek Director General Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Miroslav Krupicka Director Radio Prague

The AIB today

19 March 2009

The AIB was established in 1993 at the instigation of the international broadcasting industry, which had no independent representative association that could lobby, provide networking and offer industry information and marketing support.

Today, the AIB is the international industry association and global knowledge network for the international broadcasting industry – cross-media, cross-border, cross-cultural. It has grown into a unique centre of information about international broadcasting, covering television, radio, and emerging media platforms such as online and mobile.

Members of the AIB enjoy a comprehensive range of membership services and benefits throughout the year. This includes regular member-exclusive AIB Market Intelligence Briefings, brand exposure worldwide – editorial and advertising – in AIB print and online publications, promotion at major industry events, access to the AIB knowledge network of contacts in electronic media, regulators, parliaments and journalism worldwide, and access/discounts to selected industry events. There are three levels of membership: Corporate membership fees are based on company turnover, and Gold and Platinum membership guarantee the highest possible visibility within the global media industry.

In addition to its members, the AIB is in regular contact with over 25,000 communicators and media professionals through its regular electronic news briefings and international media magazine, The Channel. This impressive worldwide reach and the extensive network of experienced consultants across the world is one of the organisation’s strengths.

The AIB’s focus is on organisations/companies sharing information to grow their business and shape their future, and is keen to stimulate platforms for informed debate. The AIB provides a forum for making new contacts, exchanging information and doing business. This takes the form of regular member-only conference calls, regional meetings at major industry events, or private member-only meetings and dinners with key media leaders and opinion-formers in markets worldwide.

As the AIB is staffed by professionals from the broadcasting industry, the team has a detailed and practical understanding of the constantly changing broadcast environment. Key AIB staff are in demand from organisers of international media events to provide speakers, chairs and partnerships. Media regulators and government officials from countries around the world call on the AIB for input to strategic reviews of the electronic media. Where appropriate, the AIB works with other industry associations and broadcasting unions to ensure that the needs of its members are represented in different regions of the world.

The AIB is a not-for-profit organisation, with headquarters in the United Kingdom.

Chief Executive

19 March 2009

Simon Spanswick, Chief Executive

Simon Spanswick is a founder director of the AIB. His career spans both public and commercial sectors and for many years he has been closely involved in digital broadcasting.

Having contributed as a freelance journalist to BBC World Service English output since 1981, Simon joined the BBC in 1986. He spent time with BBC Monitoring, and was part of the specialist team that formed part of the UK delegation to WARC 92, safeguarding the BBC’s interests in terms of short wave and satellite broadcasting frequencies. In 1993, Simon moved to World Service Corporate Affairs, working on press and public relations initiatives, while at the same time continuing to present the World Service English media programme, Waveguide. He was the Project Manager for the Digital Radio Worldwide consortium that brought together international broadcasters with an interest in satellite-delivered digital radio services.

In 1996, Simon left the BBC to join World Radio Network as Director of Corporate Affairs. He worked on a variety of projects to raise awareness of WRN in the global broadcasting industry, and secured funding from the European Commission to launch pan-European radio services. He also led the project, part funded by Britain’s Department of Trade and Industry, to develop the world’s first portable DAB receiver.

Simon has managed the establishment and launch of major DAB Digital Radio services in the UK and has worked as a consultant to Digital One, the UK’s national DAB multiplex operator.

As Chief Executive of the AIB, Simon leads the organisation’s work on a day to day basis. Simon regularly speaks or chairs sessions at industry and consumer conferences about varied aspects of broadcasting.

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7993 2557