Tony Ficarrotta Returns to the NAI as VP and General Counsel
Veteran Compliance Expert Brings His Expertise to the NAI
WASHINGTON, DC (September 11, 2023) – The Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), the leading privacy and self-regulatory association for digital advertising technology companies, is pleased to announce Tony Ficarrotta is re-joining the organization as Vice President and General Counsel. This strategic move underscores NAI’s commitment to maintaining and elevating the highest standards of privacy, trust, and accountability within the digital advertising industry. Ficarrotta will report to Leigh Freund, President and CEO of the NAI.
“We are thrilled to have Tony back working with the NAI,” said Freund. “His industry expertise combined with his previous experience and deep understanding of the digital advertising industry will make him a valuable resource for our members as they work to enhance privacy protections for consumers.”
Ficarrotta will focus on providing strategic direction to the NAI as it revamps its Code of Conduct and accountability program to continue maintaining high privacy and data protection standards for the industry in a new state privacy law era. Ficarrotta will also handle legal matters for the NAI, including anti-trust compliance, corporate governance, and other general corporate and contractual issues.
“I am truly excited to be returning to the NAI at this pivotal moment,” said Ficarrotta. “The NAI and its membership have a well-earned reputation for privacy excellence, but there is a lot of work to do as the industry continues to adapt to ever-changing privacy standards from the states, the FTC, and technology platforms. I can’t wait to dig in.”
With a distinguished background in privacy law, Ficarrotta is returning to the NAI with a wealth of experience. Most recently, he served as the Assistant General Counsel at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), where he played a pivotal role in coordinating with stakeholders across the digital advertising industry on privacy issues affecting the industry and developing privacy compliance frameworks and strategies. Before his tenure at the IAB, Ficarrotta served as an attorney at ZwillGen, a privacy and technology specialist firm, where his practice focused on guiding ad-tech platforms, social media companies, and digital publishers through the intricate landscape of data strategy and compliance. Ficarrotta began his legal career advising financial services companies on privacy and other compliance matters at the international law firm Eversheds Sutherland US LLP. In addition, Ficarrotta’s prior experience working with the Network Advertising Initiative as counsel for compliance & policy positions him well to seamlessly integrate into the organization and guide it toward future successes. Ficarrotta holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, an M.A. from Georgetown University, and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude.
