Seven individuals and one corporate honoree will be inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame during a gala ceremony on April 20, 2015, at New York’s historic Waldorf-Astoria hotel.
Elected by the Advertising Hall of Fame’s Council of Judges, here is the new slate of individual inductees:
–John B. Adams, Jr., chairman, The Martin Agency
–Lee Clow, chairman, TBWAMedia Arts Lab; director of Media Arts, TBWAWorldwide
–Catherine L. Hughes, founder and chairperson, Radio One, Inc.
–Spike Lee, founder and CEO, Spike DDB and 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks
–Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc.
–Charles Porter, chairman, Crispin Porter + Bogusky
–Linda Kaplan Thaler, chairman, Publicis Kaplan Thaler
Adams, Jr. will also be presented with the distinguished David Bell Award for Industry Service, now in its second year, to recognize extraordinary and unique contributions and service to the advertising community and industry as a whole. It is named in honor of David Bell (Hall of Fame Class of 2007), a visionary leader and mentor to several generations of advertising professionals.
The Council of Judges made history this year by electing Hughes, the Hall’s first African-American woman inductee.
This year’s corporate inductee is PepsiCo, parent to beverage and food brands. PepsiCo pioneered the bridges between entertainment, music, pop culture, and advertising–and in doing so revolutionized advertising today. It is one of only six companies ever inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.
“Long being one of the world’s most storied brands, with a rich history woven into our cultural landscape, Pepsi has at the same time always stayed current–setting the trends and catching the spirit of each new generation with the cool and the new–and in doing so ushering in each new generation as a Pepsi Generation. It is a brand that isn’t just a part of the culture, it is that rare brand that has been a powerful and innovative force in making the culture,” said James Edmund Datri, president & CEO of the American Advertising Federation, which administers the Advertising Hall of Fame.
“Our Hall of Fame Council of Judges, composed of leaders of advertising and media, advertisers and distinguished Hall of Fame members, was deeply committed to choosing men and women of legendary stature and achievement,” said James R. Heekin III, chairman and CEO of Grey Group and chairman of the Advertising Hall of Fame. “This extraordinary Class of 2015 will inspire new generations to come.”
