Ad Club of New York celebrates Advertising People of the Year 2024
The Ad Club of New York honored industry leaders, including Shelly Lazarus, as 2024’s Advertising People of the Year, recognizing their outstanding contributions to advertising and commitment to creative excellence and social responsibility.
Ad Club board members and honorees / Credit: Margarita Corporan
Last night, the Ad Club of New York held its annual gala reception to honor the Advertising People of the Year 2024.
The event, media sponsored by The Drum, brought together industry leaders and luminaries to celebrate excellence and outstanding achievements in the advertising industry.
The Advertising People of the Year award, established in 1959, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the business, demonstrating creative excellence, advancing industry standards, and showing a commitment to social responsibility. The criteria for this prestigious honor include contributions to one’s company, creative ability, contributions to the general advancement of advertising, and contributions to the community.
The top honor of the evening went to Ogilvy’s Shelly Lazarus, who was recognized as the ‘Industry Legend.’
Devika Bulchandani, the global CEO of Ogilvy, delivered a heartfelt citation for Lazarus, highlighting her remarkable contributions and leadership.
Bulchandani praised Lazarus for her empathy, devotion and ability to lead with love and compassion, stating: “Shelly intuitively knew that she was leading people, not just analysis. She brought love into leadership, reminding us that the human element in marketing is what matters most.”
In her acceptance speech, Lazarus expressed gratitude for the recognition and reflected on her journey in the industry.
“I accept this award on behalf of everyone who has had a hand in getting me on this stage,” she said. “I’ve had the privilege of working with so many great clients and colleagues. We took risks, but we always had each other’s back. We were friends. We loved each other, and we still do.”
Lazarus also emphasized the importance of empathy in leadership, sharing a story about how she once comforted a young colleague who was anxious about losing a business account. This act of kindness left a lasting impact on those around her.
Lazarus’s recognition as the Industry Legend underscores her enduring impact and the legacy she continues to build in the field.
In addition to Lazarus, the event honored several other distinguished individuals:
- Tiffany R Warren of Sony Music and Adcolor as the ‘New Yorker of the Year’
- Elizabeth Rutledge of American Express as the ‘Marketer of the Year’
- Susie Jaramillo of Encantos as the ‘Startup of the Year’
- Danny Gardner of Haleon as the ‘Young Professional of the Year’
The Drum caught up with Shelly Lazarus for a video interview following her award presentation. Lazarus was asked for the piece of advice she has for all advertisers, she said with a smile: “Love what we do. It’s so exciting. To me, it’s thrilling every day to be solving these problems, build brands, and be able to communicate with people. Just enjoy it.”
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