4A’s Board of Directors Names Sharon Napier Board Chair
The 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies), a membership-based U.S. trade association for the advertising and marketing communications industry, announces changes to its National Board of Directors, with Sharon Napier as its new Board Chair and women in four out of five Board leadership roles. This is the first time in the organization’s history that its Board leadership has been majority female.
Sharon Napier, Executive Chair and Founder of Partners + Napier, a Project Worldwide agency, will become the new Board Chair while the Co-Vice Chair roles will be held by Vita Harris, Global Chief Strategy Officer, FCB Global, and Abbey Klaassen, President, Business Leadership, East Region at dentsu. Napier is the first female Board Chair since Shelly Lazarus held the position 22 years ago.
"I've always believed in the power of creativity to change the world, and the last two years have shown just how powerful agencies can be. Together, we've turned every curveball into an opportunity to help our clients succeed,” said Napier. “In this new role, I look forward to furthering the 4A's mission, as we enhance our value for members and drive the industry forward. My many years with the 4A's as a Board and agency member have taught me that when we work together as an industry — we are unstoppable."
Napier joined the Board in 2005 as Secretary-Treasurer and for the last four years has served as Co-Vice Chair. She succeeds Barry Wacksman, Chair and Co-Founder of Proto, who remains on the Board as past Chair. Vita Harris has been named Co-Vice Chair after joining the Board in early 2021, and Abbey Klaassen has been re-elected for another one-year term as Co-Vice Chair after serving for the past two years in this role.
Added Vita Harris, “A big thank you to the 4A’s for extending this opportunity. I am honored to have been asked to serve our industry in this capacity, and I am looking forward to partnering alongside the 4A’s Board to do so.”
Furthermore, the 4A’s welcomes new Directors to the Board: Christoph Becker, Global Chair of Integration, Edelman (Member-At-Large); Joe Maglio, CEO, McKinney (Member-At-Large); and Aaron Walton, CEO and Founder, Walton Isaacson (Western Region).
All officer appointments have been selected by the Board’s Nominating Committee, which includes C-Suite leaders from member agencies of all sizes and disciplines who have demonstrated their commitment to serving the best interests of the 4A’s members across the marketing industry.
“I’m thrilled to partner more closely with Sharon and Vita in their new roles and to continue collaborating with Abbey, Christine and Barry as officers of the Executive Committee of the Board. We’re also excited to welcome Christoph, Joe and Aaron — an impressive group of industry leaders who are passionate advocates for the industry. I look forward to working with our entire Board of Directors as we continue our mission to enable members’ business transformation with what they need to compete and addressing the critical challenges and opportunities facing our industry,” said 4A’s President and CEO, Marla Kaplowitz.
