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Mark Runacus

Thought Leader

Mark Runacus is a respected figure in the UK advertising industry, best known for his leadership of Outvertising, the non-profit organisation dedicated to making the advertising and marketing industry more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people — both within its workforce and in the ads it produces. As Chair, he has been a prominent advocate for authentic LGBTQ+ representation in brand communications and for creating more equitable workplaces across agencies and brands. Runacus built his career in brand strategy and planning, spending a significant period at Lowe (later Lowe & Partners), where he rose to a senior strategic role. He has worked across major consumer brands and has been a consistent voice on the intersection of creativity, brand purpose, and inclusion. His work at Outvertising has included producing research and guidance for the industry on LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion. He is regarded as a thought leader on diversity and inclusion within advertising, regularly speaking at industry events and contributing to debate on how brands can engage with LGBTQ+ audiences meaningfully and responsibly.

Last updated Oct 22, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment

Role
Chair
Company
Outvertising
Based
London, United Kingdom
Boards
1

AI-drafted from public sources1 source cited

Years in industry
25 years

Bio

Mark Runacus is a respected figure in the UK advertising industry, best known for his leadership of Outvertising, the non-profit organisation dedicated to making the advertising and marketing industry more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people — both within its workforce and in the ads it produces. As Chair, he has been a prominent advocate for authentic LGBTQ+ representation in brand communications and for creating more equitable workplaces across agencies and brands. Runacus built his career in brand strategy and planning, spending a significant period at Lowe (later Lowe & Partners), where he rose to a senior strategic role. He has worked across major consumer brands and has been a consistent voice on the intersection of creativity, brand purpose, and inclusion. His work at Outvertising has included producing research and guidance for the industry on LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion. He is regarded as a thought leader on diversity and inclusion within advertising, regularly speaking at industry events and contributing to debate on how brands can engage with LGBTQ+ audiences meaningfully and responsibly.

Expertise & education

Expertise

Brand StrategyLGBTQ+ Inclusion and RepresentationDiversity and Inclusion in AdvertisingBrand PurposeCreative StrategyIndustry AdvocacyWorkforce Inclusion

Speaking topics

LGBTQ+ inclusion in advertisingAuthentic brand representation of LGBTQ+ communitiesDiversity and inclusion in the creative industriesBrand purpose and social responsibility

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Chair of Outvertising, leading the organisation's mission to improve LGBTQ+ inclusion across the advertising and marketing industry
  • Produced industry research and guidance on LGBTQ+ representation in advertising