Jenny Darling Named Chief Financial and Operations Officer at the Ad Council

NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ad Council, America's leader in using the power of communications to drive social impact at scale, announced today that Jenny Darling is joining the organization as Chief Financial and Operations Officer (CFOO). She succeeds Ken Kroll, who will be retiring after serving as CFOO for over 10 years. Prior to joining the Ad Council, Darling was Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Axios, where she helped lead the company through significant growth and its acquisition by Cox Enterprises.

As CFOO, Darling will lead the Ad Council's Finance and Technology departments, including overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, production finance tracking and tax and payroll, as well as the organization's use of technology platforms. Darling will partner with the Ad Council's Leadership team to guide financial operations and technology in support of the national non-profit that powers a portfolio of high-impact initiatives tackling some of the most pressing social issues in America — mental health, firearm injury prevention, skills-based hiring and more.

"We are so thrilled to welcome Jenny to the Ad Council," said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. "Jenny brings deep financial experience, strategic thinking and a collaborative leadership style. She has a proven ability to partner across an organization and help teams connect financial decisions to broader strategy. I'm excited about the perspective and leadership she will bring to the Ad Council."

Darling has a successful track record of leadership with more than 20 years of finance and operational leadership experience across media, sports, and digital businesses. Prior to joining Axios, she served as the CFO of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Earlier in her career, she held senior finance roles at NBCUniversal, Showtime, CNN, and GE.

"I'm honored to join the Ad Council and be part of an organization with such a powerful mission and meaningful legacy," said Darling. "I look forward to partnering with the team to build on the Ad Council's strong foundation and help position it for continued innovation, growth, and impact."

Darling has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Maryland. She resides in Arlington, Virginia.

The Ad Council
The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the country's most iconic social impact campaigns – Smokey Bear, Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more. To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join the Ad Council's communities on Facebook, 

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SOURCE The Ad Council