Wayne, Pennsylvania-based buying group AD on Friday announced that it has appointed Marty McLaughlin as its first chief marketing officer.

McLaughlin is “charged with collaborating with AD’s members and boards to identify new areas of added value for its community, beyond the core functions of a buying and marketing group,” AD said in a statement.

“We’re making an investment in this new leadership position to drive the collective imagination and strategy of AD’s next generation of offerings, all aimed at helping our independent members and supplier partners win and grow,” CEO Bill Weisberg said. “AD has a long, successful track record of delivering value-added program innovations, such as eCommerce Solutions, HR Services, market planning and private label brands. Our CMO will help us introduce new offerings and evolve existing programs even further, ensuring we’re keenly attuned to the voice of stakeholders in the process.”

McLaughlin’s professional background includes founding and owning Mosaic Partners, a growth marketing and strategy consulting firm, and working for the accounting firm Andersen.

“I feel so privileged to join a team with a record of excelling in the marketplace,” McLaughlin said. “I believe marketing must be authentic, grounded in value and evolve over time. I look forward to collaborating with the AD community to deliver value and to position AD and our members and supplier partners for continued growth.”