The Ad Council announced today that DJ Perera has joined the organization as chief media officer.

Perera previously worked for research-driven biopharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, where she led its U.S. media center of excellence, managing all aspects of direct-to-consumer and health care professionals paid media for the company’s brands.

The Sri Lankan native got her start during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, leading digital initiatives at iXL, Proxicom and Qwest Communications. Perera also served as head of U.S. integrated media at Beiersdorf where she aided in the restructure of the group into a center of excellence.

In her new role, Perera will oversee the Ad Council’s media team and its four departments: digital products, digital media and operations, media strategy and engagement and emerging media, technology and innovation.

She intends to build on the work of her predecessor, Kathy Kayse—who led the media team for five years and is set to retire on May 12—by continuing to evolve the Ad Council’s media model and develop strategic partnerships across the industry. 

“It is not often that you have the opportunity to step into a role that so closely brings together your craft with your purpose. This opportunity to serve as the Chief Media Officer at the Ad Council is exactly that for me,” said Perera in a statement

In addition to Perrera’s appointment, the Ad Council elected 19 new members to its board of directors during its spring meeting held in Washington D.C. last Tuesday. 

The Ad Council’s board is comprised of senior executives whose goal is to ensure that the Ad Council’s campaigns are effective and impactful. 

The board is now working closely with the organization’s leadership to spearhead the communications industry’s efforts to address gun violence, mental health, the drug overdose epidemic and racial justice.

New members of the Ad Council Board of Directors include: 

•  Josephine Bertrams, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Heineken USA 
• Adam Gerhart, Global CEO, Mindshare 
• Jeremi Gorman, President of Worldwide Advertising, Netflix 
• Tammy Henault, CMO, National Basketball Association 
• Lisa Ryan Howard, EVP, Global Chief Revenue Officer, Hearst Magazines 
• Zach Kitschke, CMO, Canva 
• Seth Matlins, Managing Director, CMO Network, Forbes 
• Shakir Moin, CMO North America, The Coca-Cola Company 
• Catherine Newman, EVP, Marketing, WWE 
• Chris Rogers, Chief Business Officer, Instacart 
• Tiffany Rolfe, Global Chair, Global Chief Creative Officer, R/GA 
• Jessica Sibley, CEO, TIME 
• Ramon Soto, SVP, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Northwell Health 
• Dara Treseder, CMO, Autodesk 
• Gayle Troberman, CMO, iHeartMedia 
• Aaron Walton, CEO/Founder, Walton Isaacson 
• Tiffany Xingyu Wang, Chief Marketing & Trust Officer, OpenWeb 
• Clifford Young, President, U.S. Public Affairs, Ipsos 
• Andrea Zaretsky, CMO, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

The Ad Council also added four new members to its Leadership Council, which consists of industry leaders in media, tech, marketing and advertising. 

New members of the Ad Council Leadership Council include: 

•  Missy Foristall, Global COO + Americas CEO, DEPT 
• Greg Kahn, CEO, Emerging Tech Exchange & GK Digital Ventures 
• Lynn Teo, CMO, Northwestern Mutual 
• Heawon (Won) Yoo, CMO, Lightbox

“Whether they are lending their individual expertise, providing the unparalleled support of their organizations or motivating the communications industry at large to create meaningful purpose-driven work, I am ecstatic to welcome these incredible leaders and collaborate with them to create lasting positive change,” Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council, said in a statement.