Fuguitt takes up the role on 15 April. She left General Mills in August last year after 32 years with the company. Speaking to Research at the time, Fuguitt said she planned to remain involved in the industry. “Just getting up and leaving is not appropriate for me,” she said. “I feel like if I did that I might be letting some people down.”

At General Mills she was in charge of a $150m annual research budget. During her time there she also sat on the board of InsightTools, an online research joint venture between General Mills and MarketTools.

Introducing Fuguitt at this morning’s opening of the ARF Re:think 2013 conference in New York, Barocci said: “Gayle was a pioneer in applying digital technology to research and branding.”

He added: “I couldn’t be happier that Gayle has been chosen to succeed me at the ARF. Not only does Gayle bring 32 years of experience as an advertiser – the first ever – but she has the analytical skills, creative vision and global insight necessary to help our members make better advertising decisions in this uncertain age.”

Fuguitt has been a board and executive committee member of the ARF since 2005. Barocci, meanwhile, has been president and CEO since 2003. He is credited with leading the organisation back from the brink of collapse.

His retirement was announced in December.

• Read an exclusive interview with Gayle Fuguitt about her work at General Mills
• Click here to read Bob Barocci’s reflections on his time at ARF