President and CEO at 4A's (American Association of Advertising Agencies)
Leading the 4A's as a forceful advocate for advertising agencies on issues of transparency, brand safety, data privacy, and diversity — and for elevating the trade association's role in shaping industry standards and policy.
Last updated Feb 27, 2026 by AI Enrichment
Marla Kaplowitz is one of the most prominent figures in the U.S. advertising industry, serving as President and CEO of the 4A's — the country's leading trade association representing advertising agencies. Since taking the helm in 2017, she has steered the organization through a period of profound transformation, positioning the 4A's as a central voice on issues including data privacy legislation, brand safety, programmatic transparency, diversity and inclusion, and the evolving agency business model in a technology-driven marketplace. Her leadership has been defined by a willingness to engage directly with platforms, regulators, and marketers on behalf of agencies navigating an increasingly complex ecosystem. Before joining the 4A's, Kaplowitz built a distinguished career in media agency leadership. She served as President of MEC North America (now Wavemaker), a major WPP-owned global media agency, where she led operations, client strategy, and growth initiatives across the region. Her earlier career included senior roles at Mediaedge:cia and other prominent media and advertising organizations, giving her deep operational expertise across media planning, buying, and agency management. This hands-on agency background lends credibility to her advocacy work and informs her understanding of the pressures agencies face from both clients and holding companies. Kaplowitz is widely recognized as a champion for women in leadership and has made talent development and workplace culture central pillars of the 4A's agenda. She regularly speaks at major industry conferences including Cannes Lions, Advertising Week, and CES, and is frequently cited in trade press on topics ranging from the future of the agency model to responsible AI adoption in marketing. Her influence extends beyond trade association work — she is regarded as a genuine thought leader whose positions on industry ethics, transparency, and accountability carry significant weight across the advertising ecosystem.
MEC North America (now Wavemaker) (2013-2017)
Mediaedge:cia (2000s-2013)