- Adweek Staff

NEW YORK The Advertising Club here said it has named C. Thom Gruhler, who serves as evp, worldwide global account director at McCann Erickson, president.

Gruhler (pictured) succeeds Ian Parminter, svp, integrated ad sales and marketing at Discovery Networks, who now becomes chairman of the trade group.

"One of my goals for the club will be to strengthen the dialogue among the board in addressing the bigger issues that affect us right now and ensure that our initiatives directly meet the shifting needs of our membership," Gruhler said in a statement. "The Ad Club's early legacy was to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas by industry executives and I am hoping to make this an even more prominent cornerstone in the months ahead."

In addition, Beth Ann Eason, general manager and COO, Beliefnet, moves to svp from vp; Laurel Rossi, president, Strategy Farm, ascends to vp from director; Ron Fierman, CEO and president, Digital Pulp, continues as treasurer; and John Partilla, evp, president of global media sales, Clear Channel Communications, remains vp.

The club also named seven new board members:

• Michael Duda, partner, chief corporate strategy officer, Deutsch
• Gerry Frascione, CEO and presidnt, BBDO North America
• Carl Fremont, evp, Global Media Director, Digitas
• Heide Gardner, svp, chief diversity and inclusion officer, IPG
• Jacki Kelley, president, Universal McCann North America
• Rob Master, director of North American Media, Unilever
• Greg McCastle, svp, advanced ad solutions, AT&T

The seven executives who are receiving the Ad Club President's Award for outstanding contributions and commitment to club initiatives and programs are:

• Peter Bopp, partner, Leadership Strategy Group
• Frank Dudley, CMO, 'mktg'
• Wright Ferguson, president, Ferguson & Associates
• Tony Jones, senior copywriter, McCann Erickson
• Mari Kim Novak, senior director, global marketing engagement, Microsoft Advertising
• Jay Sears, evp, strategic products and business development, Context Web
• Mark Waites, joint cd and founding partner, Mother, London

Ori Zohar, account executive, Universal McCann and a former Ad Club intern, is the recipient of the Rising Star Award for his involvement in program development and social and educational event planning for the club's young professionals committee.

The club also offered thanks to these board members retiring this year: Dawn Bullen; Colleen DeCourcy, TBWA Worldwide; Todd Harvey, Activision; Carla Loffredo, Maxus; Diego Scotti, Conde Nast; and John Vail, Pepsi.