The UK government is looking to ban all TV and online advertising for food and drink that are categorised as high in fat, sugar, or salt in an attempt to reduce obesity. What will this ban mean for the food industry, and will it have the impact that the government hopes it will?

To explore this question we bring together two experts in the field, Stephen Woodford, Chief Executive, Advertising Association and Phil Smith, Director General, ISBA. We discuss what the implications of the band are for manufacturers and brands, and we investigate the facts around advertising and obesity in order to determine how effective the ban might be. Join the conversation on Table Talk.

About our panel

Stephen Woodford, Chief Executive, Advertising Association

Stephen was appointed CEO of the Advertising Association in 2016. The AA promotes the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, businesses and the economy, and all the key trade bodies, commercial media owners and tech platforms are members of the AA. Prior to joining, Stephen held management roles in four agency groups (Leo Burnett, WCRS/Engine and DDB/adam&eveDDB, Next 15). He also chairs youth marketing agency Livity, a social purpose-driven business that seeks to transform young peoples’ lives, especially from BAME backgrounds.

He is a Governor of Ravensbourne University in London, the UK’s newest creative and technology university. Stephen is a past President of NABS and serves on the board of the History of Advertising Trust. He was IPA President (2003-05) where he led both their first ethnic diversity initiative and transformed its professional qualifications for new industry entrants, which over 20,000 people have now sat and passed in the UK and around the world.

Phil Smith, Director General, ISBA

Phil joined ISBA in January, 2017 and heads up the organisation. He’s responsible for ISBA’s strategic direction and its advocacy agenda. He leads the team of ISBA directors and looks after the day to day operation of the business.

Before ISBA, Phil’s career in the UK and Europe has been in marketing, sales and general management, spanning a wide range of industry sectors, from consumer goods to grocery retail and from marketing technology to lottery and games.

Phil holds a BA in Classics from Jesus College, Oxford. He is a keen runner, skier, year-round open water swimmer and is married with five children.