Ken Roman is a former Chairman/CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, the highly regarded advertising and communications firm founded by David Ogilvy.  He joined the firm in 1963 as an assistant account executive and served as Chairman from 1985 to 1989.

 

In his 26 years with the company, he worked with major clients including American Express, Unilever, Kimberly-Clark and General Foods, and grew its international network and creative reputation.  Before O&M he worked in several corporate communications positions.

 

After leaving O&M in 1989, he joined American Express in a senior communications position for a brief stint before becoming a consultant, board director and author.  He was a senior advisor to Price Waterhouse and served on a number of boards (notably Compaq Computer, Brunswick, Gartner) and nonprofit boards (The New York Botanical Garden, National Organization on Disability).

 

He is the co-author of two business classics – How to Advertise and Writing That Works, both in third editions.  Published is January of 2009 is his biography of his former boss, The King of Madison Avenue: David Ogilvy and the Making of Modern Advertising.

 

A graduate of Dartmouth College (Editor of the daily newspaper), he was born in Boston, lives in New York, is married to a native New Yorker, and escapes with her to Nantucket.  He plays racquet sports and golf, and regards gardening as a competitive sport.