Global comms chief to lead Asthma + Lung UK’s board

Health charity Asthma + Lung UK has appointed Tamara Ingram, the chair of global communications agency Wunderman Thompson, to lead its board.

She replaces Baroness Tess Blackstone, whose five-year tenure as chair ends this autumn.

Ingram has also been chief executive of advertising firm J Walter Thompson, which merged into Wunderman Thompson four years ago.

She has also been chief executive at Team P&G and Global Horizontal Clients and sits on the boards of Save the Children International and Marks and Spencer.

Her focus will be on supporting the charity deliver its strategy to improve the lung health of people in the UK. The organisation was created earlier this year from the merger of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation.

“Lung disease is the third biggest killer in the UK, yet damaging misconceptions, dismal rates of basic care and a chronic lack of research funding mean people with lung conditions are drawing the short straw and not getting the help they need,” said Ingram.

“It’s a privilege to join Asthma + Lung UK just months after it has launched its ambitious new strategy and I’m delighted to use my skills and experience to help the charity continue to campaign for and support the millions of people in the UK with a lung condition.

“I’m excited and honoured to take up this important position and look forward to bringing my leadership skills, governance experience and passion to the Asthma + Lung UK board.”

The charity’s chief executive Sarah Woolnough added: “Tamara joins at a pivotal time for the charity, as we work together to embed our new strategy to challenge misconceptions about lung health, improve diagnosis and care for people with lung conditions and drive much-needed investment in research and innovation.

“I am very grateful to Baroness Tessa Blackstone for all that she has achieved as chair of trustees since 2017, including overseeing our recent merger, and our successful rebrand and strategy launch.

“I’m confident Tamara will be a great successor – with a strong track record of leading and serving on the boards of a variety of organisations, from international charities to global marketing agencies.”