Donovan Data Systems sponsors the third IPA Excellence Diploma

The nineteen candidates who successfully completed the IPA Excellence Diploma celebrated alongside mentors and industry leaders at a graduation ceremony on 27 November in London.

The Excellence Diploma was set up four years ago by the IPA to enhance the professionalism and value of marketing communications. It is sponsored by Donovan Data Systems (DDS) and designed for individuals with three to five years' agency experience who wish to push their thinking forward beyond their own discipline.

'We cannot overestimate the value of training to our industry. As the graduates of the IPA Excellence Diploma will testify, training delivers not just knowledge but confidence. This in turn can lead to bigger and better ideas and career advancement,' said Moray MacLennan, IPA president and chairman Europe, M&C Saatchi.

Henry Lawson, president, DDS, presented the DDS Award for Outstanding Body of Work to Alex Dunston, business director, M&C Saatchi. 'Everyone would agree that well-trained, talented individuals are the life blood of our business. The IPA Excellence Diploma is crucial to the future of marketing communications not only because it sets such high international standards, but also because it equips candidates to cope with change. The exhilarating pace of our industry will surely continue: I'm sure the digital wave hasn't crested yet. On behalf of DDS I congratulate these candidates and look forward to following their continued success as they help navigate their businesses through the exciting challenges ahead,' he said.