• Home
»
• News
»
• Sector News
»
• 2014
»
• Auditing bodies unite

Auditing bodies unite

The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) and Circulations Audit Board (CAB) have announced that they will unite under a new identity – the Audited Media Association of Australia.

In March 2013, members of the ABC and CAB voted in favour of the merger, which aims to accurately reflect their evolving leadership in media auditing and accountability.

ABC Chairman, Dr Stephen Hollings said Audited Media would preserve the history and values of both organisations and their different metrics, while meeting the needs of Australia's changing media landscape.

"The ABC brand has served us well since 1932 and will remain as the symbol of trust in paid circulation. However in these rapidly changing times it is important to have an appropriate corporate structure and we have taken the opportunity to create a combined, more robust and efficient organisation to meet the needs of all our members and Australia's media industry," said Hollings.

CAB President, Harley Slatter said the future of the ABC and CAB's more than 1,500 members would be better served by a single organisation, while continuing to prove the value of the CAB's metrics.

"This single voice of accountability will represent the many facets of the media industry and provide a platform to promote the value of audited media to the business, media, marketing and advertising community more effectively," said Slatter.

A new board for Audited Media will also be formed with Hollings and Slatter taking on the roles of Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively.

A joint working committee was formed more than a year ago to examine and oversee the process of bringing together the ABC and CAB into one new corporate entity, streamlining the financial and administrative functions of the bodies, thus creating greater efficiencies.

ABC & CAB chief executive, Paul Dovas said the existing audit and reporting rules for the ABC and CAB audit services would remain the same and the two brands would be retained.

"We want our members to benefit from the creation of one new legal entity encompassing the ABC and CAB while still retaining our two distinct brands. Our main aims are to streamline the financial and administrative functions of the bodies and give a contemporary, corporate not-for-profit structure to the organisation," said Dovas.

Photo: ABC & CAB chief executive, Paul Dovas.