Mark Goldstein, the first Chief Marketing Officer and former D.C.-area agency exec, dies at 77

Mark Goldstein, an advertising executive who, states Adweek, “helped reshape the role of agency leadership and mentored generations of talent”, died on July 31. He was 77 years old.

According to Adweek, Goldstein spent the majority of his career at agencies such as Leo Burnett, Fallon, IPG, and BBDO, before founding his consultancy, Eleven, in 2010. He is remembered not only for his pioneering work in new business, but also for his generosity, irreverent humor, and profound impact as a mentor. Tributes from former colleagues and protégés have flooded LinkedIn since news of his passing.

In addition, he spent 18 years – from 1975 to 1993 – at Earle Palmer Brown (EPB) in Bethesda, rising to President and Chief Creative Officer.

““Mark was my friend and business partner at EPB from the mid-1970’s until 1990. Mark was an excellent copywriter, songwriter, and presenter. He was my first real creative director and helped lead EPB to become the most-awarded creative agency in the DC market. As the agency grew, Mark’s responsibilities increased, and he became the President of EPB before he moved to Minneapolis. Mark certainly deserves credit for helping grow EPB into an Adweek Agency of the Year,” said Jeb Brown, EPB’s Chief Executive Officer from 1975 until he sold the agency in 2001 and now Chairman and Managing Partner of Yes&.

Born in Baltimore in 1947, Goldstein was a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where he earned both a BSJ and MSA in advertising and was later inducted into its Alumni Hall of Fame. He overcame a childhood stutter to become a renowned speaker and presenter, and carried with him a fierce belief in the power of language, ideas, and mentorship.

Adweek states that Goldstein “was widely credited as the first agency executive to hold the title of chief marketing officer, a role that helped usher in a new era of growth-focused leadership at creative shops. At BBDO, where he was vice chairman and CMO from 2005 to 2012, Goldstein helped bring in more than $4 billion in new business and earn repeated Network of the Year honors. During his time at Fallon, Goldstein helped grow the agency’s billings from $185 million to $1 billion, contributing to wins from major clients including Citi, BMW, United Airlines, and Nikon.”

He founded his consultancy, Eleven, in 2010, advising agency CEOs on new business strategy, leadership development, and long-term growth planning. The firm worked with holding companies, ad networks, and creative shops across the industry, states Adweek.