Disney’s ad sales president is stepping up her role on the Ad Council.

Today, Rita Ferro, president of global advertising, Disney, has been named chair of the Ad Council’s Board of Directors, succeeding Tara Walpert Levy, vp, Americas, YouTube. 

The Ad Council has been around for more than 80 years with its board members comprising professionals from marketing, media, technology, and business industries. According to the organization, the Board of Directors collaborates regularly with the organization’s leadership to build on national initiatives addressing gun violence prevention, mental health, the overdose crisis, anti-hate, and more. 

As chair, Ferro will partner with Ad Council leadership, its executive committee—which is the governing body of the Ad Council’s Board—and the full Board of Directors to progress the group’s mission of bringing the power of communications to address the country’s most pressing social issues.

Currently, Kirk McDonald, CEO, Sundial Media Group, and Carla Hassan, CMO, JPMorgan Chase, serve as vice chairs of the Ad Council’s Board of Directors. As part of her duties, Ferro will co-chair the Ad Council’s 2025 Annual Public Service Award Dinner, the council’s largest annual fundraising event, which will be held on Dec. 4, 2025, and honor NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. 

“Rita has been a dedicated member of the Ad Council Board of Directors since 2019, and the Executive Committee since 2020,” Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of the Ad Council, said in a statement. “I am honored to partner with her as she steps into this new role. I deeply admire her passion, and know our organization will benefit from her focus toward driving significant impact on the nation’s most pressing issues.” 

Ferro has been with Disney for 26 years, and as the president of global advertising sales, she has led global ad sales for Disney’s portfolio of entertainment, news, and sports properties as well as Disney’s linear, digital, and ad-supported streaming businesses like ABC, the Disney Channel, Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu.

The news of Ferro’s appointment as the Ad Council’s new chair comes months after Disney held its annual upfront presentation, where Disney championed its sports, adtech, and streaming offerings.