Lisa Sherman will become the Ad Council’s next president and CEO effective on November 3. Sherman was most recently the executive VP and general manager of LogoTV, part of Viacom Media Networks. She succeeds Peggy Conlon, who announced her retirement in April after 15 years of leading the organization.
Sherman will be the fifth president and CEO in the Ad Council’s 72-year history. Conlon will remain at the Ad Council through the calendar year to aid in the transition.
The Ad Council is a non-profit and the largest producer of public service communications programs in the U.S. The organization received over $1.6 billion in donated media support on behalf of its 40 national public service campaigns in 2013. The nation’s leading advertising agencies produce the creative pro bono, addressing issues including autism awareness, foster care adoption, bullying, and texting and driving.
“Lisa has been a leader and a pioneer in the communications industry. Her experience in launching and growing brands will be invaluable to the Ad Council and the critically important causes we address,” said Laura Desmond, global CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group, and chair of the Board of Directors of the Ad Council.
Sherman joined Viacom in 2005 to launch LogoTV, the leading ad-supported entertainment network aimed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. In her role, Sherman oversaw all strategy, programming, production, marketing, digital and operations of the brand. Under her leadership, Logo nearly tripled the number of households carrying Logo’s digital cable channel from 17 million to over 52 million and grew the number of advertisers to more than 300 across every major category. Additionally, Sherman’s multi-platform digital strategy resulted in Logo becoming the #1 destination of online properties for the LGBT audience, including a social audience across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and Vine of over 5 million fans.
Prior to joining Logo, Sherman served as executive VP at Hill, Holliday, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies. Previously, she co-founded the Women’s Sports Network, a marketing services company dedicated to the marketing and management of sports, entertainment and promotions for Fortune 500 companies aspiring to reach teens, women and families through their passion for sports. Earlier in her career, Sherman held a number of senior level marketing, advertising and operating positions at Verizon over the course of 17 years.
“Lisa is the ideal person to lead the Ad Council in today’s ever-changing and increasingly digital environment,” added Desmond. “Her background spanning media, advertising and corporate brands, as well as the charitable arena, provide her with a unique 360 view that will serve the Ad Council well as it looks to harness a future of dynamic change in the media, messaging and cause marketing worlds.
“I am humbled and honored by this opportunity,” said Ms. Sherman. “It will be a privilege to help lead this iconic organization through the next critical phase of its growth as we continue to give voice to important issues that impact the lives of so many people.”
“Along with Lisa’s significant experience in the communications industry, she embodies altruism and the tenets of the Ad Council, and has a great passion for the work we do,” said Conlon, the Ad Council’s current President and CEO. “I look forward to watching Lisa and our talented team take the Ad Council into the future.”
Sherman serves as vice chair of the Board of the New York City-based God’s Love We Deliver and is an advisor and corporate partner to the Greater New York initiative, a public-private partnership of the Mayor’s Fund to advance New York City.
The Ad Council’s CEO search committee retained executive search firm Spencer Stuart to conduct the search for president and CEO following Conlon’s announcement of her retirement. The search committee was chaired by Debra Lee, immediate past chair of the Ad Council’s Board of Directors and current chairman and CEO of BET Networks. Members of the committee included Ad Council Board members David Christopher, CMO, AT&T Mobility; Ad Council chair Desmond; David Kenny, CEO, The Weather Company; Stephen Lacy, chairman and CEO, Meredith Corporation; and Andrew Robertson, CEO, BBDO Worldwide.
