NEW YORK, NY — August 24, 2020 — Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), the national trade association for the digital media and marketing industries, announced today that Rik van der Kooi, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Advertising, has been named interim Chair of its Board of Directors, effective immediately. van der Kooi succeeds Kirk McDonald, who is leaving IAB member company AT&T to become CEO, North America, of the media agency GroupM. Gina Garrubbo, President and CEO of National Public Media, has been named Vice Chair of the IAB Board.
van der Kooi previously served as Chair of IAB’s Board of Directors in 2019, following a year as Vice Chair in 2018. He will hold the position until elections occur in January 2021.
“Rik’s expertise and leadership has been instrumental to the growth of IAB and he has proven himself to be one of our organization’s most impactful leaders. He was central to building and nurturing IAB Tech Lab, our technical-standards organization, and helping us build our cross-functional programs to protect consumer privacy and preserve the value of addressable media,” said Randall Rothenberg, CEO, IAB. “Gina brings tremendous experience and success as a publishing sales leader, CEO, and expert in digital audio. We are grateful to Rik and Gina and excited about the changes they’ll help IAB drive.”
As Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Advertising, van der Kooi is responsible for building and scaling Microsoft’s global advertising business, defining Microsoft search and display advertising product strategies, and leading global marketing and sales for the company’s advertising clients. van der Kooi also serves as executive sponsor of the Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) employee resource group.
“IAB is the only trade organization that brings together stakeholders across the entire advertising continuum to effectuate meaningful change. I look forward to returning to the Chair role, and working with Randall, IAB President David Cohen, IAB Tech Lab President Dennis Buchheim, and the Board to address the sector’s most pressing issues,” said van der Kooi. “Of critical importance is ensuring the advertising industry remains at the forefront of issues related to social equity, diversity and inclusion. IAB has the ability to lead these efforts and I am honored to build upon this legacy and help catapult these issues forward.”
Garrubbo is President and CEO of National Public Media (NPM), where she is committed to ensuring the continued growth of NPR and the public media system through the funding from corporate sponsors. Garrubbo has spent more than 20 years in traditional and digital media growing marketing and sales teams, launching brands, and building companies. She was one of the builders of Women.com, one of the first websites for women, and BlogHer, which brought independent voices to millions of readers. Garrubbo built advertising sales teams for Oxygen Media, Discovery Communications and in syndicated television.
“The next phase of transformation being undertaken by IAB is a leap forward that will help define the future of the entire digital media and marketing industry. This is an incredibly exciting time for one of the most dynamic industries in America. I look forward to contributing to IAB’s efforts to effect meaningful changes,” said Garrubbo.
About IAB
The Interactive Advertising Bureau empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership is comprised of more than 650 leading media companies, brands, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. The trade group fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. In affiliation with the IAB Tech Lab, IAB develops technical standards and solutions. IAB is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the trade association advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. Founded in 1996, IAB is headquartered in New York City.
IAB Media Contacts
Kate Tumino / Brittany Tibaldi
212-896-1252 / 347-487-6794
[email protected] / [email protected]