Interview with Paula Alex, CEO of the Advertising Educational Foundation, 1985–2016

Abstract

Paula Alex: Be happy to give you some AEF history. Back in the mid-1980s, a group of ad agency leaders got together to start a foundation that would represent the industry. This group was led by Alfred Seaman, who had just retired as CEO of SSC&B Lintas. Initially, to address the negativity and misperceptions about advertising among the general public and on campus, AEF’s founders thought a major public relations effort on behalf of the industry would be in order. For example, the Gallup Poll in the mid-1980’s listed advertising professionals just above used car salesmen as one of the least reputable professions.