User:Rambolanka

Ian Ramsden was born in Acomb Nursing Home, York UK on 11th October 1951 to Muriel (housewife)and Frank (printer). He attended Scarcroft Junior School from 1956 to 1963 and then Nunthorpe Grammar School. In 1969 he was awarded an American Field Service International Scholarship to Lamar High School, Missouri, USA where he studied for 1 year.

Returning to the UK in 1970 he joined Yorkshire General Life Assurance, but left after 2 years to join Mathers and Benson advertising agency in London. Following stints at several other agencies, including T Richard Johnson and Stewart & Jefferies, he joined Dewe Rogerson in 1979 to develop his financial marketing skills and it was here he first made contact with Ian Govendir who was to have a significant impact on his later career. He also developed his passion for direct marketing and used his knowledge to join the fledgling Benton & Bowles Direct in 1984 where he became fully immersed in the use of the strategy.

Due to his knowledge of direct marketing for financial services and travel he was recruited by FCB Pasley Wood (later FCB Direct) to operate the British Caledonian Airways Account. Appointed Client Services Director in 1987, he was promoted to Managing Director in 1998 and helped grow the agency to one of the top 10 in the UK. In 1989 he was appointed Vice President for Europe for Publicis Group.

At this time he was also invited to join the Direct Marketing Centre, headed by Professor Derek Holder. The DMC subsequently re-launched itself as The Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM) and Ian was asked to become a Founder Member. Over the next 20 years he lectured on Customer Loyalty and was named Educator of the Year in 2002- the same year he gained his Fellowship of The IDM.

1992 saw him set up his own company where he was awarded the British Red Cross account to raise funds for their work during the Bosnia crisis. Joining forces with Carol Trickey the agency built a reputation in the not-for-profit sector.

During a visit to Sri Lanka in 2000 he was impressed by the marketing community and decided to move there. Joining forces with PBN Direct run by Priyanga Hapugalle, they created Direct Solutions Ltd in 2002 and it has now grown to be the most professional agency in the country.