Few advertising personalities are as outspoken and instantly recognizable as R/GA co-founder Bob Greenberg, and now the agency leader's ongoing career is getting another lasting tribute.
Greenberg will be one of three honorees inducted into the New York AMA's Marketing Hall of Fame on April 28. The others being added are former American Express CMO John Hayes and marketing strategy author Al Ries.
"Our 2016 inductees represent an extraordinarily impressive cross-section of influential marketers, all world-renowned for their outstanding contributions to the field," said Joanna Seddon, president of the New York AMA and president of global brand consulting for OgilvyRED. "Selection of these inductees is the decision of the several hundred marketers leading marketers who form our Marketing Hall of Fame Academy and final judging panel. This rigorous process has once again resulted in our honoring three leaders who are shaping the ways we practice marketing today and inspiring the marketers of the future."
Greenberg, whose agency has long had a reputation for adapting and evolving to stay ahead of the industry's technical curve, was similarly honored at the Cannes Lions in 2015 with the Lion of St. Mark. That award for lifetime achievement had previously gone to some of advertising's most famous names: Lee Clow, Dan Wieden, Joe Pytka and John Hegarty.
Fellow Marketing Hall of Fame honoree Hayes led American Express' marketing for more than 20 years before stepping down during a wide-ranging corporate restructuring last month.
"In his 21 years at American Express, John has made an indelible mark on our company," American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault wrote in his announcement of the restructuring."During his tenure, he not only created a number of iconic brand advertising and marketing campaigns, but also played a key leadership role on major product innovations and ran our highly respected publishing group prior to its divestiture. His experience, judgment and creative talent helped strengthen our brand and grow our business. John's guidance and wisdom will continue to be a great help to us as we go through this transition."
Ries, who runs the consulting firm Ries and Ries with his daughter, has written many books on marketing, with the most notable being his industry-shifting Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind in 1981.