Advertising Pioneers and Rising Stars Honored with 4A’s Awards Celebrating Diversity and Talent in the Industry

New York, NY – August 12, 2015 –
The 4A’s fifth annual Diversity Leadership Luncheon, held today during The Face of Talent in New York City, honored ad industry executives Susan Credle, Doug Alligood and Tracy Wong. Each year, the Face of Talent is the premier event to showcase and engage the industry’s top diverse talent, and the luncheon provides a platform for celebrating those individuals and agencies. Keynote speeches were made by Bill Koenigsberg, founder and chief executive officer of Horizon Media and board chair of the 4A’s, and Angelique Piwinski, national chair, IPGLBT, the Interpublic Group of Companies.

Award recipients include:

  • The Pantheon Award recipient Susan Credle, global chief creative of FCB, in recognition of being a cultivator, supporter and champion of multicultural talent
  • The Gladiator Award recipient Doug Alligood, executive vice president, Horizontal Markets, and chairman, Diversity Council, BBDO, recognized for his leadership within the corporate arena
  • MAIP Mentor of the Year recipient Tracy Wong, chairman/co-founder of WONGDOODY, who has provided consistent guidance and outreach to mentees
  • DigitasLBi, named MAIP agency of the year for its continued partnership and development of young talent

Additionally, three students who participated in the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) were awarded scholarships to continue their education.
“The 4A’s legacy of developing and nurturing world-class multicultural talent for the industry, and leading the conversation about how that talent is making a difference, is stronger than ever,” said Nancy Hill, President and CEO, 4A’s. “I’m incredibly proud that since MAIP was created in 1973, we’ve graduated more than 2,700 multicultural students after exposing them to real, hands-on experience in the ad business.”

“The advertising industry continues to evolve, and today we are able to honor the incredible talent rising up from the 4A’s MAIP program,” said Bill Koenigsberg, founder and chief executive of Horizon Media and board chair of the 4A’s. “It’s also exciting to celebrate the dedication of folks like Susan Credle, Doug Alligood and Tracy Wong. We all need to be passionate about fueling the industry with diverse talent if we are serious about the future of our business.”

The luncheon was sponsored by Leo Burnett, along with DigitasLBi as the exclusive Diversity Leadership Luncheon partner and McCann Worldgroup as Leadership Development Forum Exclusive Partner and many other agencies.

For further details and full partner information, please visit: http://thefaceoftalent.aaaa.org/

About The Face of Talent
The Face of Talent was established in 2011 as a catalyst for agency leaders and their clients to demonstrate their commitment to two of the most important issues facing our industry-talent and diversity. The multiday symposium, including the Diversity Leadership Luncheon, attracts more than 500 advertising and marketing executives. Each summer this series of events is designed to celebrate and showcase over 100 talented multicultural college seniors and graduates that comprise the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP). The Face of Talent has also served as a community-building platform that inspires and helps the industry reconnect with more than 2,700 MAIP alumni, who are leading and influencing change across industries.

About the 4A’s
The 4A’s is the catalyst for bringing together the right people in the right place at the right time to address the advertising industry’s most critical business issues. We provide leadership, advocacy, guidance and community to our members and the industry at large, with proprietary access to the people, information and tools needed to make smarter management decisions. Our mission is to help agencies become more successful. www.aaaa.org.

Primary Contact
Samantha Wolf
Vice President
Havas PR
[email protected]
(212) 367-6800