Donato (pictured) was most recently founder of Jatopond, a media and market research company providing insights and supply chain research through technology such as satellite images, location sensors and mobile tracking.

He was also previously executive vice-president and chief research officer for Nielsen, where he has worked for more than 10 years. At Nielsen he was responsible for its retail, consumer, mobile and media measurement methodologies.

In other roles, Donato co-founded WPP’s Media Research Business Unit and was CEO of Kantar Media between 1998 and 2001. He is also a past chairman of ARF.

Scott McDonald, president and CEO of ARF, said: “At a time when there are so many contentious and challenging research issues facing the advertising industry, and when ARF member needs are evolving at an exponential rate, few research leaders have the depth and breadth of Paul’s experience or his track record.”