Alliance for Audited Media and BPA Worldwide to Merge

In the US, the Boards of Directors of not-for-profit audience audit organizations the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) and BPA Worldwide have approved a plan for the two to merge. The aim is to increase trust across media channels through 'innovative service development'.

BPA Worldwide was originally created by advertisers, ad agencies and the media industry to audit audience claims used in the buying and selling of advertising, while AAM says its mission is to deliver transparency and collaboration between North America's media professionals. Post-merger, the bodies say they will use their complementary expertise to provide a suite of services to increase transparency and accountability in media, differentiate high quality media outlets and service providers, and allow buyers to choose quality and maximize return on media investments.

If AAM and BPA members vote for the merger in January, it is expected to be completed in the spring. AAM's CEO and MD Tom Drouillard will become CEO of the combined organization, and BPA's CEO Rich Murphy will serve as President.

AAM Chairman Chris Black, who also serves as SVP, Global Lead at Zenith, comments: 'Demand for increased digital advertising assurance is a driving force in bringing AAM and BPA together. Combining our expertise will be a catalyst for more transparency, better services and increased confidence across the industry'. BPA Chairman David Adelman, who is founder and CEO of OCD Media, adds: 'BPA and AAM share a common vision to help buyers buy better and quality sellers sell more. Together, we will do this across channels - web sites, newsletters, events, print, out-of-home, podcasts and ad tech - and across compliance areas such as advertising, editorial, privacy and sustainability'.

Web sites: www.auditedmedia.com and www.bpaww.com .