In Memoriam: Kenneth Roman, Former Chairman and CEO of Ogilvy

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Kenneth Roman, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ogilvy. Ken passed away on April 22, 2026, at his home in Manhattan. He was 95 years old.

Ken joined Ogilvy in 1963 as an account executive and spent the next 23 years rising through the ranks with the kind of quiet determination and exceptional talent that defined the best of this agency- ultimately serving as Chairman and CEO from 1985 to 1989. He didn ' t just lead Ogilvy; he helped shape what it stood for.

Even after his time at the agency, Ken never truly left us. He remained one of our most trusted voices on all things David Ogilvy , a go-to resource for factchecking , storytelling, and keeping the founder ' s legacy alive with honesty and precision. He authored The King of Madison Avenue , considered the definitive biography of David Ogilvy, along with the beloved business classics How to Advertise and Writing That Works , both of which have gone into multiple editions since first published. His pen never stopped moving . H e contributed articles to The Wall Street Journal , Advertising Age , and many others throughout his life.

Ken remained a steady and generous presence in the Ogilvy community. He wrote a column published on Ogilvy.com, and was always quick to respond, always generous with his time, and always enthusiastic about the work and the people behind it. He never missed an Ogilvy event he was invited to-not even two hours of traffic could keep him away. Just a year ago, he hosted a small reunion at his home to celebrate old friends and big ideas , the kind of gathering that could only happen because Ken cared enough to make it happen. He was also recently featured in the Ogilvy Alumni Newsletter in a Q&A -a testament to how present and engaged he remained in our world.

What made Ken truly remarkable wasn't just his career-it was his heart. He had a deep love for Ogilvy and, even more so, for the people. Relationships he formed here, he carried and nurtured long after retirement. He stayed deeply engaged with his craft and with this community until the very end.

We will miss him greatly-his wisdom, his warmth, his wit, and his unwavering belief in what great advertising and great people can do together. Ken Roman was Ogilvy through and through, and that will never change.

Our hearts go out to his family and to all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.