Keitch will step down at the end of the month although he will continue to act as the DMA’s media spokesman until July.

The DMA has yet to appoint a successor and Keitch’s responsibilities will be shared between the organisation’s directors and senior staff until they find a replacement.

Keitch won the role of chief of membership & brand last year after serving as the DMA’s director of media channel development and environmental affairs for three years.

In his current position, Keitch has served as the public face of the DMA, implemented a series of member benefits and thought leadership initiatives. He has also engaged with government and industry stakeholders, particularly on the PAS 2020 environmental standard.

The position of chief of membership & brand was created in 2009 alongside that of chief of operations to create a double-headed leadership structure, part of the DMA’s programme of change designed to ensure the organisation meets the needs of its members and to enable it to lead the direct marketing industry over the next five years.

Commenting on his departure, Keitch says: ‘I'm proud of what I've achieved in setting the DMA on a steady course of change that will ensure it can continue to represent the interests of the direct marketing industry today and far into the future. However, after four years at the DMA it's now time for me to turn my hand to new challenges.’