Kenneth Richard Kaess Jr. (July 30, 1954 – 27 March 2006) was CEO of advertising agency, DDB Worldwide. [1]
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut and raised in Watertown, Connecticut, Kaess graduated from Vassar College. [2]
Kaess began in 1977 at Doyle Dane Bernbach, which was later renamed DDB. He left for a vice president/management supervisor position at Jordan, McGrath, Case & Taylor, then went to New World Entertainment, where he was responsible for the Emmy Award-winning Muppet Babies. [2]
He returned to DDB to run the Los Angeles and New York offices before being appointed as Worldwide President in 1999 and Chief Executive Officer in 2001. [3]
He was the first executive to serve two consecutive terms as head of the American Association of Advertising Agencies. [1]
He died at his home in Westport, Connecticut, aged 51, of cancer. [3]
References
- ^ a b Stuart Elliott (March 29, 2006). "Ken Kaess, 51, Who Led Ad Agency, Is Dead". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Andrew McMains (March 28, 2006). "DDB CEO Kaess Dies at 51". Adweek.
- ^ a b "Westport Ad Exec Ken Kaess Dies at 51". WestportNow.com. March 28, 2006.