Former Unilever and IAB UK directors team up to form GDPR consultancy

Data privacy keyboardUnilever UK’s former media & marketing services director Alex Tait has partnered with Nick Stringer, ex-director of regulatory affairs at IAB UK, to launch a GDPR consultancy, The Drum reports.

The implementation of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) is fast approaching – with it due to come into force next May – however, many businesses remain unprepared.

In May, research from the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), which boasts more than 1,000 companies as members, found that only 54 per cent of businesses felt they would be ready in time for the implementation of GDPR. It also found that, at the time, 24 per cent of companies had yet to put a plan in place for GDPR.

It’s because of this that Tait and Stringer decided to form Entropy Data, a sister consultancy to Tait’s Entropy marketing communications advisory service. Entropy Data will focus on how brand advertisers can comply with GDPR, develop good practice, and gain general understanding of the regulations.

“The urgency to act around GDPR has been covered extensively over the last few months but we both believe that many brands need and are asking from specialist advice from practitioners who have both a mix of marketing and regulatory expertise,” Tait told The Drum. “We will help brands prepare for the GDPR with a tangible action plan. However, speaking to brands about their needs around data privacy best practice, we believe when it is right for the brand many should go beyond this.”