The UK Cards Association announces appointment of Chair

Melanie Johnson, former Government Minister for Competition, Consumers and Markets, becomes The UK Cards Association’s first non-industry Chair
Demonstrates UK Cards commitment to a progressive agenda

The UK Cards Association announces today (7 September 2009) the appointment of Melanie Johnson as its first non-industry Chair. Melanie Johnson was the Labour MP for Welwyn Hatfield from 1997 until 2005 and served as a government Minister in the Treasury, in DTI5 as Minister for Competition, Consumers and Markets and latterly at the Department of Health as Minister for Public Health. The UK Cards Association is the leading trade association for the UK cards industry representing 99% of the industry; its members issuing credit and debit cards to 42 million customers and providing merchant services to the thousands of businesses in the UK who accept card payments face-to-face and online.

Paul Marsh, Director of The UK Cards Association said:

“For the first time, the industry has moved outside of its own to appoint a chairman. It is key to our commitment to working with a wide range of external parties that we have the right person to lead the industry and I am extremely pleased that Melanie was willing to accept this role. Her experience will stand us in good stead to meet the challenges of the future.”

Melanie Johnson said:

“I am delighted to take up this new position in an industry that is essential to so many of us, but that we too often take for granted. In my former role at the DTI, I often held meetings with the cards industry and saw how it responded robustly to massive political pressure and got down to the job in hand rather than playing to the gallery. I have been greatly impressed by the commitment the industry has shown to increasing transparency for its customers of all shapes and sizes and I look forward to leading this industry forward.”

Melanie Johnson takes up her duties on 9th September when she chairs her first meeting of the Council of The UK Cards Association as it reviews its strategy and sets out its future agenda.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The UK Cards Association is the leading trade association for the cards industry in the UK. With a membership that includes all major credit, debit and charge card issuers, and card acquiring banks, the role of the Association is both to unify and represent the UK card payments industry. It is responsible for formulating and implementing policy on non-competitive aspects of card payments including codes of practice, fraud prevention, major infrastructural changes, development of standards and other matters where cross-industry benefits are identified. The UK Cards Association was formed in April 2009 as the successor body to the APACS Card Payments Group.
Melanie Johnson was Member of Parliament for Welwyn Hatfield, Hertfordshire from 1997-2005. During that period, she was a Minister in three Government departments. Since 2006 she has been a senior non-industry member of the Association of British Insurer’s Customer Impact Panel.
A photograph of Melanie Johnson is available from The UK Cards Association on 020 7711 6316 or press@ukpayments.org.uk.
More information about The UK Cards Association is available on www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk
Now known as the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.

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