Pepsi advertising man dies at 79 |
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Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:06
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NEW YORK (AP) - Advertising man Alan Maxwell Pottasch, who was behind such iconic ad campaigns as the 'Pepsi Generation,' has died, the company said. He was 79.PepsiCo Inc. said Pottasch died in his sleep Friday in Los Angeles, where he was on location working on a TV commercial. Even though he retired in 1991, he continued to work for the company as a consultant.Pottasch was the creative force behind five decades of Pepsi advertising campaigns, the company said. He started working for the company in 1957, and as a marketer recognized the shift from promoting products to selling a way of life.He produced ads such as the famous 1980s Pepsi commercials that starred Michael Jackson, as well as those featuring celebrities such as Lionel Richie, Ray Charles, Michael J. Fox, Cindy Crawford, Britney Spears and Beyonce.'Alan had an extraordinary ability to understand and connect with people, whether they were his family, friends, colleagues or consumers of the brands he loved to market,' PepsiCo's ex-Chief Executive Roger Enrico said in a statement. 'He was a beautiful person -- creative, talented, funny and caring.'Among his other interests were flying and scuba diving.He held a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Pennsylvania State University. He also attended directing school in New York and participated in the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.Pottasch lived in New Fairfield, Conn. He is survived by his wife Lisa; their daughter Allison; a son from a previous marriage, Alan Jr., of California; and a sister, Harriett Selig, of Florida.He will be remembered in a private ceremony and at a tribute in September at PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase, N.Y.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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