The ANA and AEF Join Forces

The ANA (Association of National Advertisers) and the Advertising Educational Foundation (AEF) today announced that their boards of directors unanimously approved joining forces.

This decision reflects the long-term strategies of both organizations to shape the future of the industry by connecting academia with the marketing community and, ultimately, attract the best talent to the industry. The ANA/AEF partnership will broaden the industry’s presence on campuses, bring increased marketing content to the industry, provide newfound opportunities for education and research, and initiate a renewed focus on advertising’s role in culture, society, and the economy.

The AEF will become a subsidiary of the ANA on July 1, 2015, and retain its status as a 501(c)(3) foundation. This partnership will expand the role of its board of directors to further a robust academic/industry mission.

Bob Liodice, President and CEO of the ANA, said “We are delighted to welcome the AEF into the ANA family. This alliance will strengthen the connections between the advertising and academic communities. Our goal is to foster thought leadership through new research and educational content that will drive marketing excellence for marketers, agencies, and publishers. Importantly, our deep integration with professors and students will encourage the very best talent to join and stay with our industry”.

AEF President and CEO, Paula Alex, said “We are thrilled to join forces with the ANA. Our objective is to strengthen the extraordinary foundation that we have built over the past 30 years with the academic community. Our programs and initiatives are at an all-time high, and our educational content is more robust than ever.  This union will reinforce AEF’s core mission—to create and distribute educational content about the socio-economic role of advertising—while we create new opportunities with the marketing industry.”