Newsworks, the marketing body for the national newspaper industry, today announces that David Pattison will become its new - and first ever independent - non-executive chairman.

Pattison will take over on 2 January 2013, with Paul Hayes stepping down after two and a half years in the role. Hayes, managing director of News International Commercial, will continue to sit on the Newsworks board.

Pattison becomes its first ever independent chairman, selected from outside its own membership of national newspaper owners. Pattison, a well-known media industry figure, was formerly co-founder and then CEO of media agency PHD Worldwide, as well being a past president of the IPA.

The move follows the appointment of Rufus Olins as CEO in January this year and the relaunch of the former Newspaper Marketing Agency as Newsworks.

Olins said: "I would like to thank Paul Hayes for the leadership and support he has shown as chairman for the past two and half years. We have gone through a period of significant change and the time is now right for an independent non-executive chairman. David is ideal for that role. He is a highly-respected figure in both the agency and wider marketing community; a successful business builder; and he has real insight into the challenges and opportunities ahead."

Pattison added: "I am really pleased to be helping Rufus and Newsworks. People will always want to know what the news is. The newspaper owners now reach their consumers through a range of different delivery systems and are working on the marketing opportunities this represents to their clients. The redefined brief for Newsworks is a very good, modern example of how the industry has embraced the structural changes and is finding solutions for it. It's a very exciting time to be getting involved."