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The 21 ad execs that wield the most power and influence over Facebook
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The 21 ad execs that wield the most power and influence over Facebook

Carolyn Everson Facebook 9175

Michael Seto / Business Insider

Facebook's vice president of global marketing solutions Carolyn Everson

Ever since news of Facebook's most recent scandal involving Cambridge Analytica broke, its vice president of global marketing solutions Carolyn Everson has spent much of her time putting out fires.

Everson has been reaching out to the company's many advertisers, helping them understand the ramifications of the crisis, as well as the steps Facebook has taken since it erupted.

But there's one group that was notified first and foremost - and wields more influence than anyone else at Facebook.

That group is the "Facebook Client Council," a 21-person team comprising marketing heavyweights from both brands and ad agencies who work closely with Facebook executives including Everson to improve its products and help it cater better to the industry's needs.

Some prominent members include Proctor & Gamble global marketing chief Marc Pritchard and Unilever chief marketing officer Keith Weed - who publicly vowed to reduce spend on Google and Facebook recently but has been conspicuously silent since the latest blunder came to light.

As Facebook comes under fire for its seemingly never-ending string of missteps, and some advertisers question spending on the platform, the council is armed with more power than ever to push the industry's collective concerns.

Here's a list of the council's 21 current members.

The 21 ad execs that wield the most power and influence over Facebook

Alan Batey, EVP/President at GM North America

Alan Batey, EVP/President at GM North America

Batey has served as General Motors Company's global chief marketing officer as well as led marketing for Chevrolet and Buick before his current position. He is the only auto marketing exec on the council.

Kelly Bennet, CMO at Netflix

Kelly Bennet, CMO at Netflix

Bennett, an entertainment marketing veteran from Warner Bros. Pictures, oversees global marketing and social media for Netflix across more than 150 countries. His job is to extend some of the streaming giant's most successful franchises into thrilling experiences across the digital, mobile, and out-of-home mediums — a job that probably requires a lot of collaboration with Facebook.

Chris Bruzzo, CMO at EA

Chris Bruzzo, CMO at EA

Bruzzo sits on the council representing video game company Electronic Arts, overseeing marketing strategy and strategic communications for the brand.

Tom Buday, Head of Marketing Consumer Communications at Nestle

Tom Buday, Head of Marketing Consumer Communications at Nestle

Buday brings with him nearly five years of experience as Nestle's European marketing director— bringing not only Nestle's perspective as a European company, but also valuable insight into foreign consumers for the council as a whole.

Fiona Carter, Chief Brand Officer at AT&T

Fiona Carter, Chief Brand Officer at AT&T

Carter leads sponsorships, media, brand and corporate and advertising for AT&T — repping one of the largest communications companies in the world.

Kelly Clark, Global CEO at GroupM

Kelly Clark, Global CEO at GroupM

Clark leads holding company WPP's media investment company GroupM globally, and has worked with clients ranging from Target to IBM.

Wendy Clark, Global President and CEO, DDB

Wendy Clark, Global President and CEO, DDB

Clark brings a wealth of client-side experience with her from her years at Coca-Cola but now represents a much broader swath of clients. She has also been in the council previously.

Francisco Crespo, Chief Growth Officer at Coca-Cola

Francisco Crespo, Chief Growth Officer at Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola also had a seat on the table in the past, and Crespo keeps the tradition alive as its chief growth officer — a new position which combines global marketing, customer and commercial leadership and strategy.

Dominique Delport, Global Managing Director and Chief Client Officer at Havas

Dominique Delport, Global Managing Director and Chief Client Officer at Havas

Delport oversaw global client relationships, marketing and new business for Havas, but is reportedly leaving for Vice Media at the end of April, according to Variety. It remains unclear if he will retain is seat on the council.

Laurent Faracci, Global EVP at Reckitt Benckiser

Laurent Faracci, Global EVP at Reckitt Benckiser

Faraccci represents the consumer healthcare multinational company at the council.

Lucas Herscovici, VP of Consumer Strategy and Insights at Anheuser-Busch InBev

Lucas Herscovici, VP of Consumer Strategy and Insights at Anheuser-Busch InBev

AB InBev has set asid $2 billion in US capital spending to bolster its flagship beer brands and improve distribution through 2020 — so it would want to ensure it is spending its ad dollars in the right places. It is no wonder then that Herscovici, who looks after strategy, media and insights is a member.

Steve King, CEO at Publicis Media

Steve King, CEO at Publicis Media

King helps Publicis Media clients like L'Oreal and Coty with their strategy, insights and analytics, data and technology and performance marketing — making him a prime member of the council.

Daryl Lee, global CEO at Universal McCann

Daryl Lee, global CEO at Universal McCann

As the global CEO of media agency Universal McCann, Lee is well-versed in combining the science of data with the art of creative in advertising, and represents clients from Hershey to Heinz.

Simon Lowden, President of Global Snacks Group at Pepsi

Simon Lowden, President of Global Snacks Group at Pepsi

Pepsi and Coca-Cola may never see eye-to-eye, except at the Facebook Client Council, where Lowden joins Crespo.

Nigel Morris, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Dentsu Aegis

Nigel Morris, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Dentsu Aegis

As the strategy and innovation chief for Dentsu-Aegis' network of agencies, Morris represents the interests of brands ranging from Mondelez to MasterCard.

Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer at P&G

Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer at P&G

Spending a hefty $10.4 billion dollars annually, Pritchard controls the largest advertising budget on the planet. That hasn't stopped him from taking a strong stance against digital advertising, when necessary.

P&G cut more than $200 million in digital ad spending in 2017, including 20% to 50% cuts at "several big digital players," according to the Wall Street Journal. But Pritchard is yet to acknowledge Facebook's recent gaffe publicly.

Andrew Robertson, President and CEO at BBDO

Andrew Robertson, President and CEO at BBDO

Robertson leads the Omnicom-owned ad agency network BBDO Worldwide, and represents a host of big brands like Visa and Mountain Dew.

Tony Rogers, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Walmart US

Tony Rogers, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Walmart US

Rogers is responsible for all aspects of Walmart's marketing efforts, including customer research, strategy, program development, branding, and customer communications.

David Sable, Chairman and Global CEO at Y&R

David Sable, Chairman and Global CEO at Y&R

Sable is not only the global CEO of ad agency Young & Rubicam, but also chair of Ad Council's board of directors — a prestigious group of senior executives from media companies, agencies, technology companies and advertisers.

Daryl Simm, Chairman and CEO at Omnicom Media Group

Daryl Simm, Chairman and CEO at Omnicom Media Group

As the CEO of Omnicom Media Group, Simm oversees a consortium of media agencies within the Omnicom Group, a budget of over $40 billion, as well as a roster of big clients, from Apple to Pepsi.

Keith Weed, CMO at Unilever

Keith Weed, CMO at Unilever

Like Procter & Gamble, Unilever is also a consumer packaged goods giant, a big budget ad spender and a champion of cleaning up digital advertising. But Weed, seems content on amping up the pressure from the inner quarters, instead of criticizing the biggest players out in the open.