Brand purpose agency Given has announced the appointment of Jan Gooding as chair. Gooding has expertise in brand and marketing and has been appointed, joining two other non-executive board advisors: Craig Wildman and Nigel Salter.

The appointment comes following Given’s 10th anniversary in November, and as it prepares its strategy for the next decade.

Spanning 35 years, Gooding has forged a global brand and marketing career and is also known as a change agent on issues of diversity and inclusion. She has senior executive experience leading the marketing strategies of blue-chip brands, including Aviva, British Gas, BT, Diageo and Unilever. She is chair of PAMCo and president of the Market Research Society. She has also campaigned for equal parental leave during her time as global inclusion director at Aviva and is chair of LGBT equality charity Stonewall.

As the new, non-executive chair of Given’s board, Gooding will help accelerate its growth. Joining two other new, non-executive advisors she is the ‘last piece of the jigsaw’ to help fulfil the consultancy’s expansion both domestically and internationally at a time when brands are beginning to have an appetite for organisational change.

Gooding says, “What excites me particularly, is the opportunity I have to help bring Given’s true potential to fruition. For the last 10 years they have been working diligently in the background, building a fantastic client base and focusing on becoming a strong, strategic consultancy which can really add value within this incredibly important area of responsible business."

For the last 10 years, Given has been establishing its credentials as a leader in the area of brand purpose. Founded by the Body Shop’s Becky Willan and creative planner David Hawksworth, the agency has been focused on delivering brand purpose with ‘substance;’ its proprietary definition for purpose work which drives concrete, positive change for businesses, communities and the world. Its current client list straddles a range of sectors from retail and fashion to utilities and the financial services and includes household names such as Aviva, IKEA, John Lewis & Partners and Virgin Media.

Jan takes over from Clare Fuller, who had served as chair since 2015, and has stepped down for health reasons.