Simon 'Sanky' Sankarayya is new D&AD president

Outgoing President Paul Brazier steps down tonight having completed his three-year term on the executive committee.

Sanky's first steps in design were as a graffiti artist. He went on to study information design at the University of Nottingham, and joined Digit as an Art Director when it was founded in 1995. He stayed there until he co-founded AllofUs in 2004. Sanky has worked closely with D&AD over the last year on the development of its new website, which will launch at the end of this month.

'Digital spine' is the aim

'I want to act as a bridge between advertising and design, ensuring a 'digital spine' runs through all of D&AD's activities,' says Sanky. 'I want to support new talent and give graduates the leg up that they need and engage with smaller agencies and individuals that are shaping our industry through a variety of smaller events and taking a fresh look at what we have to offer online.'

Sanky has spoken at Design Indaba, IDN conferences in Sydney and Singapore, Flash Forward, The Typographic Circle and Design Yatra in Goa. He has also taught at the London College of Communication, Hyper Island in Sweden and Space Invaders in Copenhagen.

The following D&AD members have been elected to the executive committee following elections in August: Rosie Arnold, BBH; Mark Bonner, GBH; Neville Brody, Research Studios; Andy Cheetham, JWT; Bryan Clark, University College Falmouth; Vince Frost, Frost*; Steven Johnson, The Hub; Ben Priest, adam&eve; Mike Stephenson, Moon; Alexandra Taylor, Mrs McGuinty, and Seal Toal, The Creative Rebellion.

The following D&AD members have stepped down from the executive committee:
Paul Brazier, AMV.BBDO; Mark Denton, Coy! Communications; Bill Mawhinney, BJL; Steve Mykolyn, Taxi; Greg Quinton, The Partners, and Jane Scherbaum, V&A;