Scott McDonald, Ph.D.

Scott McDonald became the CEO and President of the Advertising Research Foundation on March 1, 2017. With over 30 years of research experience solving pressing business issues, Scott is an ardent champion of high-quality standards. He has held senior research positions at leading global media companies, including 10 years at Time Inc., and 14 years Conde Nast. He also served as Chairman of the ARF from 2001 to 2002. His innovative work at the intersection of advertising research, traditional media, and the digital revolution reflects his roots in academia. Namely, McDonald earned his PhD in Sociology from Harvard University and has taught courses on media measurement, media economics, and monetization strategies at Columbia Business School for the past 18 years.