BJL managing director Nicky Unsworth will succeed Ian Tinker as the chair of NABS in the north west.

Unsworth succeeds Ian Tinker, who has held the role for the past six years, and will look to raise awareness of the charity and its work in the region.

She said: "NABS offers financial, emotional, professional and practical support for people in our industry. It is a charity we have supported as an agency over the years, and I am delighted to be more directly  involved, particularly at a time when the recession makes the NABS remit of  supporting people even more important.”

Kate Harris, head of regional development at NABS, said the charity needs to grow awareness and gain support in the north west.

Harris said: "For some time now one of our key issues has been that awareness within the creative community in the north west is not as high as it needs to be and indeed the majority of financial support has historically come from the media side of the business.

"With Nicky's appointment will come a renewed effort to correct this and grow the support for the industry charity throughout the whole marketing communications business in the region.

"I would also like to extend a huge thank you to Ian Tinker, who has done a sterling job."