• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, May 8, 2018

American Advertising Federation President & CEO, James Datri is stepping down effective October 10th after completing 10 years of service to the organization.

AAF Board Chair Kim Kelleher is calling a special meeting this month of the AAF Board to discuss the formation of a committee to lead the search for Datri's successor. The Board will also meet in Chicago next month, as part of the organization's annual ADMERICA event, where Kelleher says the Federation will celebrate Datri's decade-long tenure.

Kelleher stated: "Jim began his tenure with the AAF in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, and navigated the Federation through those difficult waters to new-found success.  Among the many highlights of Jim's tenure were his moving the annual Advertising Hall of Fame event from a luncheon to a grand dinner, quintupling its revenue and increasing its stature and attendance; and transforming the Hall of Achievement into a successful bi-coastal event, now held in alternating years in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco."

After leaving the AAF Datri plans to devote full time to Miller/Datri Pictures, a film production company he formed earlier with his godson and cousin Colby Reed Miller.