On Monday, 1 February, Ben Steward will start work at the IPA as its first Director, Communications and Freedom to Publish, in a move designed to boost awareness of the IPA’s work, especially in defending the right of publishers to publish and distribute works in complete freedom, and in promoting copyright.

A languages graduate, then a newspaper journalist in the UK, in 2006 Ben Steward joined the Geneva-based European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the world’s foremost alliance of public service media. Over five years as an editor on the EBU’s Eurovision News Exchange, he curated and managed international television news content and newswires for Europe’s leading national broadcasters.

In 2011 he moved to the EBU’s Public Affairs and Communications Department as a Communications Officer, with a brief that spanned public affairs and member relations, the EBU’s sports media rights and broadcast network businesses, media standards and technology, and news operations. 

Most recently, Steward served as communications aide to senior management at MSC Cruises, Europe’s leading cruise line, driving and managing all executive output, while doubling as liaison to the European cruise industry association, CLIA. 

Based in Geneva, Steward will report to IPA Secretary General José Borghino who said: ‘I am delighted that Ben is joining us. He is fluent in Italian and French, and has a good grasp of Spanish, and he will bring a fresh energy to the IPA’s communications. A commitment to freedom of expression was central to his work at the EBU and he has the necessary experience and skillset to considerably enhance IPA’s messaging. I look forward to working closely with Ben to ensure that we deliver the right kind of services to our members.’