JANET ROBINSON ELECTED TO CHAIR THE AD COUNCIL

Robinson Joined By 14 New Board Members

NEW YORK May 5, 2004 - The Advertising Council announced today that Janet Robinson, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, The New York Times Company, has been elected to Chair, The Advertising Council. Ms. Robinson, who will become CEO of the Times Company by the end of the year, was installed at the Ad Council's Board of Directors meeting held this morning in New York.

A board member since 1997, Ms. Robinson has served as Vice Chairman of the Ad Council since June of 2001. As Chair, she succeeds Andrea Alstrup, Corporate Vice President, Advertising, Johnson & Johnson, and will serve in the position for one year.

The following are the current Ad Council officers:

  • Vice Chair, Agency: John J. Dooner, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, McCann-Erickson WorldGroup
  • Vice Chair, Advertiser: Judy L. Hu, General Manager, Global Advertising and Branding, General Electric Company
  • Vice Chair Media: Philip I. Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Turner Broadcasting System
  • Secretary: O. Burtch Drake, President & CEO, American Association of Advertising Agencies, Inc.
  • Treasurer: Robert D. Liodice, President & CEO, Association of National Advertisers, Inc.

 

"We are honored to have Janet's leadership on our Board," said Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of The Advertising Council. "She has been a tremendous asset to The Ad Council since joining our Board in 1997, particularly in her work on our Executive and Corporate Development committees. "Janet's valuable insight and experience will help our Board to greatly extend the reach and the impact of the Ad Council."

Ms. Robinson has demonstrated her commitment to the Ad Council through her involvement with the Ad Council Executive Committee, the Board of Directors Nominating Committee and the Corporate Development Chair Committee, helping to raise $5 million to fund the Ad Council’s operations. During the past year, Ms. Robinson has greatly enhanced the support of newspaper organizations nationwide on behalf of the Ad Council. In addition, Ms. Robinson secured the consulting firm, McKinsey and Company, to work with the Ad Council pro bono to develop a comprehensive three-year strategic plan for the organization.

Ms. Robinson was Senior Vice President, Newspaper Operations, The New York Times Company since February of 2001 to February of 2004. In this role, she led the operations of all of the Company's newspaper properties, which include The New York Times, The Boston Globe, the International Herald Tribune and 16 other newspapers. From 1996 to February of 2004 she also served as President and General Manager of The New York Times. Ms. Robinson has been with The New York Times Company since 1983 and has held many senior advertising positions for the newspaper as well as for the company's women's magazine and sports magazine groups. Additionally, Ms. Robinson has received numerous awards. Beginning in 2001, she has been named each year to Fortune magazine's annual survey of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business.

The Ad Council also elected 14 new members to its Board of Directors. The new directors are:

  • Roger W. Adams, Executive Director, Advertising and Corporate Marketing, General Motors Corporation
  • Deirdre Bigley, VP, Worldwide Advertising, IBM Corporate Marketing, IBM Corporation
  • Steve Blamer, President and CEO, Grey Worldwide North America
  • Daryl Evans, Vice President-Advertising & Marketing Communications, Cingular Wireless
  • Ann M. Fudge, Chairman and CEO, Young & Rubicam Inc.
  • James R. Heekin, Chairman and CEO, EURO RSCG Worldwide
  • Stephen P. Hills, President and General Manager, The Washington Post
  • Andy Jung, Sr. Director of Advertising & Media, Kellogg Company
  • Craig A. Moon, President & Publisher, USA Today
  • Martin Nisenholtz, Chief Executive Officer, New York Times Digital
  • Scott D. Schulman, SVP, Sales & Marketing, The Wall Street Journal Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
  • Charles H. Townsend, President and CEO, Conde Nast Publications Inc.
  • Heidi Ueberroth, EVP Global Media Properties and Marketing Partnerships, National Basketball Association
  • Joan H. Walker, EVP, Corporate Marketing & Communications, Qwest

About The Advertising Council

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to effect, 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.