The choice of the consumer representative highlights the importance the DMA is placing on ensuring the industry behaves responsibly in the wake of public frustration with junk mail as seen in last year's BBC programme 'Brassed Off Britain'.
The association admitted that consumer confidence in direct marketing and perceptions of the industry need to be significantly improved.
According to Vicary-Smith, direct marketing is no longer the Cinderella of the marketing profession.
"Good marketing organisations see the importance and value of integrated marketing campaigns with direct marketing forming a part of them," he said.
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