The Ad Council Welcomes 23 New Members to Its Board of Directors

Meta's Nicola Mendelsohn Elevated to Vice Chair

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ad Council, America's leader in leveraging the power of communications to inspire action and accelerate change around the nation's most pressing issues elected 23 new members to its Board of Directors at its biannual Board meeting yesterday. Along with welcoming a new group of leading marketing, media and business executives, the nonprofit organization elevated Nicola Mendelsohn, Head of Global Business Group, Meta, to the role of Vice Chair. Mendelsohn joined the Ad Council Board of Directors in 2023, and the Executive Committee in 2024.

Chaired by Kirk McDonald, CEO of Sundial Media & Technology Group, the Ad Council's Board of Directors offers critical strategic and financial support fueling the organization's mission to address the leading issues facing people in the U.S., including firearm injury prevention, mental health and more.

"We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to the Ad Council's Board of Directors. Each brings an incredible depth of experience, fresh perspective, and a genuine commitment to our mission. I'm excited for the ideas and energy they'll bring as we work together to tackle some of our nation's most pressing challenges and create meaningful, lasting impact," said Ad Council President and CEO Lisa Sherman.

"The Ad Council is proof of what our industry can do at its best: when creativity, media and technology come together in service of something bigger," said Nicola Mendelsohn, incoming Vice Chair of the Ad Council Board of Directors. "I'm honored to step into this role and to work alongside such talented leaders across the industry to accelerate that impact in the years ahead."

New members of the Ad Council Board of Directors include:  

• Mindy Barry, CMO, Mars Pet Nutrition North America, Mars
• Linda Boff, President, Forbes CMO Network, Forbes
• Devika Bulchandani, Chief Operating Officer, WPP
• James Cadwallader, Co-Founder & CEO, Profound
• Robin Callif, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, Omnicom Public Relations
• Lindsay Franke, Group President & Deputy CEO - North America, Ipsos
• Liza Heller, Sector Director, CPG, U.S., TikTok
• Alexander Jutkowitz, Partner, Head of Advisory, United Talent Agency
• Ashan Khan, Head of Global Agency Partnerships, Uber Advertising, Uber
• John Kozack, President, U.S. Advertising Sales and Marketing, TelevisaUnivision
• Casey DePalma McCartney, Senior Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Unilever North America
• Adrian Mulryan, VP, Global Agency & Strategic Accounts, Snap Inc.
• Peter Naylor, Chief Client Officer, Nielsen
• Kristen O'Hara, VP, Global Agency Platforms & Client Solutions, Google
• Tim Perzyk, VP, Marketing & Marketing Science, Microsoft Advertising
• Megan Ramm, Global Chief Revenue Officer, PubMatic
• Howard Reid, SVP, Corporate Brand & Purpose, Johnson & Johnson
• Maggie Reznikoff, Chief Client Officer, Open Influence
• Hayley Romer, Managing Director, US Advertising Sales, Bloomberg Media
• Alex Underwood, Managing Director, North America, Teads
• Ashley Walters, Chief Marketing Officer, Partner, Curiosity
• Jennifer Warren, VP, Global Brand Marketing and Experience, Indeed
• Lin-Hua Wu, EVP, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, General Motors

A complete list of the Ad Council Board of Directors is available on the organization's website, AdCouncil.org. 

About the Ad Council
The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the country's most iconic social impact campaigns – Smokey Bear, Friends Don't Let Friends
Drive Drunk, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more. 

To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join the Ad Council's communities on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and view campaign creative on YouTube. 

SOURCE The Ad Council