New York - October 5, 2012 – Laura Desmond, Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Starcom MediaVest Group, has been named as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ad Council. The announcement was made at the Ad Council’s Board Meeting at JPMorgan Chase & Co. yesterday afternoon.
Desmond joined the Ad Council Board in 2009. As Vice Chair and as a member of the Executive Committee she will participate in the strategic leadership of the organization and will succeed Debra L. Lee, Chairman & CEO of BET Networks, as Chair in 2014. Marc Pritchard, P&G’s Global Brand Building Officer, is currently Chair of the Ad Council.
“We are thrilled to announce Laura has accepted our invitation to join the Executive Committee and serve as Vice Chair of our Board,” said Peggy Conlon, president & CEO of The Advertising Council. “We know that her business acumen, marketing expertise and outstanding leadership will be instrumental to the Ad Council in years to come.”
The Ad Council Board represents three sectors of the industry; corporate advertisers, ad agencies and media companies, as well as leadership from the industry’s leading trade organizations. For a complete list of the Ad Council board see here.
"The Ad Council delivers real impact and improves lives through comprehensive public service advertising campaigns," says Desmond, Global CEO, Starcom MediaVest Group. "I am honored to serve as Vice Chair of the Ad Council and to be able to help further their inspiring mission to stimulate action on issues that make a measurable difference in our society."
Desmond has served as Global CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group since 2001 and during that time has garnered significant new business from both new and existing clients, including Coca-Cola, Masterfoods and P&G. During her tenure, Starcom MediaVest Group has continued to make headlines with thought provoking, innovative work in the areas of research, systems, consumer intelligence and consumer context planning (CCP) and has received numerous accolades from leading industry publications including 'Agency of The Year' (by AdAge and Media magazine under Starcom MediaVest Group) and one of the highest 'grades' awarded to a top ten US Media Services company including A- (Adweek, 2004) and A+ (RECMA, 2004).
The Ad Council
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of public service advertising campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or view our PSAs on YouTube.
