Matt Tapper has announced he will be stepping down as chairman of the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) in May of next year.

Tapper, whose day job is Lion’s global markets managing director, notified AANA staff in an email earlier this week.

Speaking on the catalyst of his decision, Tapper said he predicts a heavier workload overseas for Lion going forward and added there has never been a better time for him to “hand on the baton”.

He wrote: “It is the right time for me to make this move.

“The AANA has never been stronger. For example, we announced last week the appointment of three new directors, Lisa Ronson from Tourism Australia, Andrew Hicks from Woolworths and Martin Brown from Nestle.

“Also, given the length of my tenure and the fact that my role as Managing Director, Lion Global Markets, is likely to involve more time overseas – as we expand our business in Asia, the US and Europe – it is time for me to hand on the baton!”

Looking to the future, Tapper said the AANA still has improvements to make, particularly the issue of transparency.

“In the near future, we’ve got our focus on some fundamental issues, including getting greater transparency in the media buying chain, working to achieve a single measurement tool across all media and platforms and re-engineering the funding system to reflect the changes that have and continue to occur in media buying practices.

“We will also do more to engender a better understanding of how self-regulation delivers for the community.

“Given the calibre of your Board and secretariat, I am very confident that the organisation will continue to achieve great outcomes for our profession.”

Tapper thanked his fellow Board members and the AANA secretariat, “particularly John Broome and his predecessor, Sunita Gloster, for their sterling support over the years.”

He added, “I would also like to acknowledge my fellow director Mark Reinke for his contribution to the AANA over a long period.”