• by Joe Mandese , 4 hours ago

The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) Thursday announced Bob Liodice will step down at the end of the year, and that the trade association has begun a "comprehensive search" for his successor.

The ANA did not disclose who is handling the search, but the move follows the transition of other key, long-time players on its senior management team, including Bill Duggan who is retiring from the organization in June, and Bill Tucker, who retains an ANA management role, but has taken the helm as CEO of its Aquila cross-media measurement service.

Earlier this year, the ANA announced long-time International Advertising Association Global Managing Director Dagmara Szulce had joined the ANA and will succeed Duggan.

Liodice, who has led the ANA for more than two decades, will be a tough act to follow, given the transformations he oversaw during one of the most tumultuous periods for consumer marketers, but the ANA said he will help ensure a "smooth transition" by serving in an advisory role through March 2027.

"I believe this is the right time to transition leadership to the next generation, and I have great confidence in the organization’s future and continued impact," Liodice said in a statement.