The Advertising Club of New York, also known as The Ad Club and originally called the Sphinx Club, focuses efforts on advertising industry self-regulation, professional training and good fellowship. The Advertising Club of New York is the only organization to bring the industry together across all disciplines – marketing, media and agencies – in the name of exchanging ideas and best practices for business and thought leadership. Offering the community access to conversations and key influencers, inspiration and recognition for creativity, the best training for professional development and a movement for diversity.
In 1896, a group of eight advertising men in New York City began meeting for lunch on a regular basis to share ideas on the business that sustained them. They called themselves the Sphinx Club, and in 1906 the growing group incorporated as the Advertising Men's League, ultimately becoming The Advertising Club of New York in 1915.
Most of The Ad Club's early years were spent at the landmark Stanford White building at 23 Park Avenue, where Ad Club members, including the young Bill Paley, J.C. Penney, and Bill Bernbach, conducted business in the main dining room over lunch.
1906: The first formal course in advertising to be offered by an educational institution at New York University (NYU).
1911: The first supporter of the "truth in advertising" program, which remains a hallmark of consumer protection, and formed the first "Vigilance Committee", which evolved into today's Better Business Bureau.
1923: Held the first-ever advertising exposition at the 71st Regiment Armory to much acclaim, with an attendance of over 58,000.
1949: Founded the Advertising Hall of Fame immortalizing 10 giants of our industry the first year, and many more until it was turned over to the American Advertising Federation in 1973.
1964: Founded the International ANDY Awards to recognize creative excellence in advertising and to raise the standards of craftsmanship in industry.
2003–Present Gina Grillo, Executive Director
2001 - 2003 Robert Mate, VP/Publishing Director, Meredith Corporation
1999 - 2001 Carla Loffredo, Sr. Partner/Director, Brand Comm, J. Walter Thompson
1998 - 1999 Steven Farella, jordanmcgrathcase & partners
1997 - 1998 Joanne Davis, Bozell Worldwide
1996 - 1997 R. Jeffrey Petersen, Architectural Digest
1995 - 1996 Ronald S. Fierman, Warwick Baker O'Neill
1994 - 1995 Susan C. Russo, The New York Times
1993 - 1994 Wenda Harris Millard, Family Circle
1991 - 1993 Wilder D. Baker, Warwick, Baker & Fiore
1989 - 1991 William F. Marlieb, General Media International
1987 - 1989 Richard D. O'Connor, Lintas: Campbell-Ewald
1985 - 1987 Leslie Winthrop, Advertising Agency Register
1982 - 1985 Judy Guerin de Neco, Judy Guerin, Inc.
1981 - 1982 Michael Chamberlin, Lebhar-Friedman
1979 - 1981 Fred R. Messner, Poppe Tyson
1978 - 1979 Al Ries, Ries, Cappiello, Colwell
1976 - 1978 Michael Chamberlin, Lebhar-Friedman
1974 - 1976 Edward Malluk, Timely Linens
1973 - 1974 Vincent A. Carberry, Precision Valve Corporation
1971 - 1973 Charles E. Ballard, Winius-Brandon Company
1969 - 1971 Milton Riback, Milton Riback, Inc.
1967 - 1969 William T. Leslie, TWA
1964 - 1967 Walter B. Bruce, American Can
1963 - 1964 Mervin P. Bickley, United Airlines
1960 - 1963 Horace H. Nahm, Hooven Letters
1959 - 1960 Gene Flack, Sunshine Biscuit Co.
1957 - 1959 Robert M. Gray, Esso Standard Oil
1955 - 1957 Thomas B. Haire, Haire Publishing
1953 - 1955 George A. Phillips
1951 - 1953 George S. McMillan, Bristol-Myers
1950 - 1951 Frank M. Head, United Cigar-Whelan Stores
1948 - 1950 Andrew J. Haire, Haire Publishing
1946 - 1948 Eugene S. Thomas, Bamberger Broadcasting Service
1944 - 1946 Allan T. Preyer, Vick Chemical Company
1942 - 1944 John A. Zellers, Remington Rand
1941 - 1942 I.S. Randall
1939 - 1941 G. Lynn Sumner, G. Lynn Sumner Co.
1937 - 1939 Lowell Thomas, television anchor
1935 - 1937 H.B. LeQuatte, Churchill-Hall Advertising
1932 - 1935 Grover A. Whalen, John Wanamaker
1930 - 1932 Charles E. Murphy, Murphy, Block, Sullivan & Sawyer
1929 - 1930 James Wright Brown, Editor & Publisher
1927 - 1929 Gilbert T. Hodges, New York Sun
1925 - 1927 Charles C. Green, Charles C. Green Advertising Agency
1923 - 1925 H.H. Charles, H.H. Charles Advertising Service
1922 - 1923 C. King Woodbridge, The Dictaphone Co.
1921 - 1922 Frank E. Fehlman, Churchill-Hall Advertising
1919 - 1921 George W. Hopkins, Columbia Gramophone Co.
1919 - 1919 F.A. Wilson-Lawrenson, Associated Press
1917 - 1919 George B. Sharpe, DeLavel Separator Co.
1914 - 1917 Harry Tipper, Automotive Industries
1908 - 1914 William H. Ingersoll, Robert Ingersoll & Bros.
1907 - 1908 Gerald B. Wadsworth
1906 - 1907 Charles Capehart
1896 - 1905 Data not available
