The new board members are Paul Donato, executive vice president and chief research officer at the Nielsen Company; Ronald Franklin, president and executive producer at NsightsWorldwide; Gayle Fuguitt, vice president of consumer insights at General Mills; Donna Goldfarb, vice president of consumer and market insights at Unilever Americas; and Jim Thompson, worldwide president and CEO of Ipsos ASI.

The ARF’s CEO Bob Barocci (pictured) said the election of representatives from the worlds of media, advertising, and research, was “a reflection of the growing breadth and strength of the ARF”.

Board chairman Stephen Kim, who is also senior director of Microsoft Advertising, said: “Their combination of experience, intellect and insights will play a major role as the ARF expands its reach.”