President & CEO

The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) is seeking its next President & CEO at a pivotal moment for one of the most dynamic, complex, and rapidly evolving industries in the world. For nearly 90 years, the ARF has been the trusted authority advancing the science, practice, and impact of advertising and marketing. Today, the organization is poised for its next era of leadership and transformation.

The Opportunity

This is a defining moment for the ARF and the advertising, marketing, media, and research/data industries more broadly. The next President & CEO will be a bold, forward-thinking leader who brings vision, energy, and gravitas to unify diverse stakeholders, accelerate innovation across the marketing ecosystem, and help the industry navigate—and lead—through unprecedented disruption and opportunity.

The ARF brings together the leading minds across advertisers, agencies, media, ad tech, top universities, and research to advance the scientific practice of marketing through rigorous, unbiased insights and shared standards. Through its unique cross-industry network, the ARF transforms emerging challenges into actionable knowledge that drives better decision-making and measurable impact. Its portfolio includes the Marketing Science Institute (MSI), which connects top academics and practitioners to pioneer advances in marketing research, and the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM), which unites industry leaders to accelerate innovation and set standards in a rapidly evolving measurement landscape. The organization has an operating budget of $10.5 million and staffing with over 50 team members. For more information, please visit the ARF’s website at thearf.org.

The Position

The ARF President & CEO serves as an ex-officio member of the ARF Board and acts as a central force in shaping and advancing strategic direction and aligning governance with execution. Reporting to the role is a high-impact leadership team spanning finance, growth, research, digital marketing, and key initiatives, including DASH, MSI, and CIMM. Together, the President & CEO and leadership team amplify ARF’s influence across the industry—engaging leading organizations, cultivating new membership, and strengthening the partnerships and networks that drive innovation and progress.

Near-term priorities include:

• Shaping the Future of the Industry in a Rapidly Changing Landscape: Boldly advance the ARF as the defining force in the future of the industry - shaping priorities, inspiring what comes next, and broadening its influence and impact across a transformative landscape.
• Driving Membership Expansion and Value: Broaden and deepen the ARF’s reach by expanding into new verticals and subject domains. Make the ARF an indispensable partner for its members.
• Transforming Insight Delivery to Maximize Strategic Value: Grow and innovate the ARF research delivery to increase engagement for members and the industry.
• Strengthening Financial Resilience and Strategic Flexibility: Architect a forward-looking, diversified business model that enables sustained investment and growth amid shifting dynamics.

Primary Responsibilities

Organizational Strategy & Growth

• Set and advance a bold strategic agenda that positions the ARF at the forefront of industry transformation.
• Expand reach, influence, and membership by accelerating growth across new sectors and audiences.
• Catalyze innovation across the enterprise, delivering cutting-edge approaches in research, programming, and delivery models.

Organizational & Financial Leadership

• Drive high performance operations at scale with rigor, accountability, and agility.
• Build a resilient, diversified financial business model that fuels long-term investment and impact.
• Cultivate a high-performing, world-class team aligned around performance, collaboration, and purpose.

Board & Stakeholder Engagement

• Activate strategic board partnership to advance mission and strategic priorities.
• Unify diverse stakeholders around a shared vision, building alignment and momentum across varied interests and constituencies.
• Leverage the full power of the ARF network to drive industry impact.

Industry Leadership & Communications

• Define and champion the future of the marketing research and measurement field.
• Elevate ARF as a premier thought partner and catalyst for industry progress.
• Serve as a visible, trusted spokesperson, representing the ARF with authority and credibility across key industry forums and conversations.

Program & Research Leadership

• Deliver distinctive, high-impact insights and experiences that set the standards for excellence in research, content, and member value.
• Reimagine programs and convenings to deepen engagement.
• Advance understanding of emerging forces to equip the industry to navigate and harness transformative technologies, including AI.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Champions the Power of Research and Data Analytics: Deep commitment to and grounding in rigorous, science-based approaches.
• Strategic and Innovative Thinker: Proactively identifies emerging trends and shapes strategic innovations that impact the ecosystem and advance the industry.
• Navigates Complexity with Vision: Forward-looking perspective on a rapidly evolving landscape.
• Proven Enterprise Leader: 10+ years of executive leadership in marketing, media, or research.
• Leads with Impact and Inclusivity: Collaborative, action-oriented leadership style.
• Decisive Leader: Leads with an enterprise- and industry-wide perspective, exercising sound judgment with clarity and authority.
• Develops High-Performing Teams: Experience building and empowering top-tier talent with excellent team management skills.
• Financially and Operationally Astute: Drives disciplined growth and performance.
• Credible Industry Voice: Recognized and respected across research, advertising, and marketing sciences.
• Convenes and Aligns Stakeholders: Ability to unify diverse leaders around shared goals.
• Builder of Strategic Partnerships: Track record of high-impact collaboration.
• Influential Communicator: Strong communication skills with the ability to persuade and inspire.

The role requires regular access to New York City, where much of the industry’s leadership and engagement is concentrated. The ARF’s new office location in the Empire State Building reflects its commitment to visibility, connectivity, and leadership at the heart of the industry.

The salary range for this position has been set at $350,000-$450,000, commensurate with experience, with bonus-eligibility. The ARF offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous paid time off; health, dental, vision, and other insurances; and a 401(k)-retirement plan with an employer contribution. The ARF expects to make a hiring decision by the end of 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The ARF is an equal opportunity employer and considers all employees and job applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, or any other status protected by the law.