Irwin Gotlieb, CEO, GroupM

One of the most successful and well-known figures on Madison Avenue, Irwin Gotlieb has revolutionized the advertising industry over the past four decades, most recently embracing the digital age and its place in media buying. Since April 2003, Gotlieb has served as the global CEO of GroupM, which is the parent company of such WPP media agencies as MAXUS, MediaCom, Mediaedge:cia, and MindShare. He joined WPP in September 1999 as chairman and CEO of MindShare Worldwide and was previously the president and CEO of MediaVest Worldwide, which he founded in December 1993. Among his many achievements, Gotlieb is a three-time Adweek/Mediaweek All Star, a two-time Advertising Age Media Maven honoree, and was named Media Player of the Year by Advertising Age. He was also the first advertising/media agency executive to be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.