NEW YORK – October 29, 2026 -- The Ad Council elected 23 new members to its Board of Directors and elevated Nicola Mendelsohn, Head of Global Business Group at Meta, to Vice Chair.
Board adds executives from major agencies, platforms and brands
The nonprofit approved the new directors at its biannual Board meeting. The group spans agency holding companies, technology platforms, media owners, measurement firms and consumer brands. Names include Devika Bulchandani, Chief Operating Officer of WPP; Robin Callif of Omnicom Public Relations; Peter Naylor, Chief Client Officer of Nielsen; and Lin-Hua Wu, EVP and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of General Motors.
Platform and ad-tech representation includes Liza Heller of TikTok, Adrian Mulryan of Snap Inc., Kristen O'Hara of Google, Tim Perzyk of Microsoft Advertising, Ashan Khan of Uber Advertising, Megan Ramm of PubMatic and Alex Underwood of Teads.
Mendelsohn moves up after three years on the Board
Mendelsohn joined the Ad Council Board in 2023 and its Executive Committee in 2024. She steps into the Vice Chair role under Board Chair Kirk McDonald, CEO of Sundial Media & Technology Group.
Mendelsohn said the organization shows what the industry can do when creativity, media and technology come together in service of something bigger.
Board provides strategic and financial backing for U.S. social issue campaigns
According to the Ad Council, the Board provides strategic and financial support for its mission on leading U.S. issues, including firearm injury prevention and mental health. Ad Council President and CEO Lisa Sherman said the new directors bring depth of experience and a commitment to the mission.
Consumer goods, media and services firms fill remaining seats
Other new directors include Mindy Barry, CMO of Mars Pet Nutrition North America; Howard Reid, SVP, Corporate Brand & Purpose at Johnson & Johnson; and Casey DePalma McCartney, SVP, Communications & Corporate Affairs at Unilever North America. Media and publishing seats go to Linda Boff of Forbes, John Kozack of TelevisaUnivision and Hayley Romer of Bloomberg Media.
The class also includes James Cadwallader, Co-Founder and CEO of Profound; Lindsay Franke, Group President and Deputy CEO, North America, at Ipsos; Alexander Jutkowitz of United Talent Agency; Maggie Reznikoff of Open Influence; Ashley Walters of Curiosity; and Jennifer Warren of Indeed.