Its stated aim is to promote the “…role, rights and responsibilities of advertising and its impact on individuals, the economy and society".

[9][10] Previous chairs and presidents have included Dame Cilla Snowball, Andy Duncan, Gavin Patterson, James Murphy and Jeremy Bullmore.

On behalf of industry, Council guides the development of the self-regulatory system and sets advertising policy.

The Advertising Association holds an annual industry summit each January which is called LEAD.

In 2016, various authors were asked to write essays on similar themes, in order to gauge how the industry had changed.

[17] Founded by the Advertising Association, business4Life is a coalition of companies actively using marketing and communications skills to help deliver Department of Health Change4Life.

It revealed that the UK’s balance of payments for advertising-related services is £1.6 billion, second only to the United States in the world and five times the second highest in Europe, France.

It brings together advertisers, agencies, media owners, tech platforms, as well as fellow trade associations ISBA and IPA.

Its research suggests that only 25% of the UK public had a favourable attitude towards advertising, a record low.

[29] On Brexit, the Advertising Association believes the industry may be adversely affected if non-British workers leave the country.