Newsroom
Lester Wunderman Honored at the Caples
by Wunderman
New York, March 24, 2011 — At the 33rd Annual John Caples International Awards, honoring the best in direct and interactive marketing around the world, Lester Wunderman was celebrated for his lifetime achievement winning the Andi Emerson Award. The award is presented each year to an individual for outstanding service to the direct marketing community.
Mr. Wunderman, who attended the ceremony with his wife Sue and a well represented group from Wunderman, received a standing ovation from the crowd of 300 guests at the Capitale in New York’s hip downtown.
Patrick Fultz, president and CCO at the DM Creative Group and president of the Caples presented Mr. Wunderman the award, saying “Wunderman the agency and Lester Wunderman the person created direct marketing as we know it. [He is] the man widely credited with coining the term ‘direct marketing’ more than four decades ago.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Wunderman talked about the “remarkable world” he lived and worked in. He said “For a poor kid born in the Bronx, the journey has been nothing short of miraculous. The people I have met; political leaders, business moguls, artists, creative thinkers, teachers, colleagues and friends. What a life and what a time to have lived it. I am grateful for all of it.”
Mr. Wunderman said he became focused on creativity and persuasion and as he learned to create ideas for others, he had an idea for himself. He told the crowd “I wanted to leave behind the idea of how to make a living–and concentrate on the commitment to make a life….What I successfully searched for was an intellectual and imaginative business idea.”
The rest, as they say, is history. For Mr. Wunderman, the business idea was, and is, the remarkable business of direct marketing!
Visit DMNews for more from the evening and an interview with Lester.
The Caples was founded in 1978 by Andi Emerson, a direct marketing pioneer, in order to honor well-recognized copywriter John Caples. With international chairs in 50 countries, it is funded by industry agencies, clients and suppliers; is run by industry volunteers and is judged by more than 100 active, senior-level, international creative professionals. Between 200-300 creatives and marketers from around the world attend the annual dinner and presentation.
