Stephanie Kugelman
American advertising executive (1947–2026)
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Stephanie Kugelman (June 15, 1947 – February 23, 2026) was an American advertising executive, branding expert and executive mentor. She was a past Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic officer of Young & Rubicam Inc.,[1] which was a publicly traded S&P company[2] until its acquisition by British holding company WPP plc in 2000 for $4.7 billion.[3] Her career at Y&R started as a junior researcher and she remained a Vice Chairman Emeritus of the company.[4] As a brand strategist,[5] since 2011 she has most recently served on the public boards of Whole Foods Market,[6][7][8] and Young & Rubicam Inc., and sat on the board of Home Shopping Network (HSN).[9][10][11] She was also Vice Chairman of Solera Capital, a New York private equity firm.[12][13][failed verification][14]
Stephanie Kugelman | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1947 Nyack, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 23, 2026 (aged 78) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Elmira College |
| Occupations | Vice Chairman/Chief Strategic Officer, of Young & Rubicam (1999–2007) |
Political party | Democratic Party |
| Children | 1 |
Early life and education
Kugelman was born in Nyack, New York, but her family moved to Weston, Connecticut, a few years later. She attended Staples High School (Connecticut). She graduated from the Elmira College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology and completed executive study business programs at Harvard School of Business and Kellogg School of Management.[15]
Career
Kugelman was elected to the board of Y & R Inc in 1992, and several years later was named Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Y&R New York and then in 1999 became Chairman and Managing Director of Y & R New York[16] and then Chairman and CEO of that office.[17] Y & R was named agency of Agency-of-the-Year in 1995, 1996, and 1998. Y & R New York grew its office to over 1,200 employees and over $1 billion in media billings.[18] In 2002 Stephanie was named Vice Chairman, Chief Strategic Officer of Y & R Worldwide[19][20] and her client responsibilities included Kraft Foods, Showtime (TV network), United Airlines, Accenture, Sears[21][22] across more than 100 Y & R offices. In 2007, she stepped down to start her own brand consultancy, called A Second Opinion, LLC (A.S.O.).[23][4]
Kugelman was named Advertising Woman of the Year in 2000[24] and was also inducted into the YMCA Academy of Women Achievers.[25] She has continued as a member of Advertising Women of New York and as a judge for the EFFIE Awards for advertising effectiveness.[26]
Philanthropy
Kugelman served as a consultant to Women for Women International and on the boards of Gilda's Club, Safe Horizon and Scholarship Committee of Boca Grande Woman's Club.[27]
Personal life and death
Kugelman had a daughter from her first marriage and she remarried after her husband, Arthur E. Kugelman, died. She later resided with her husband Edward Vick in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.[28]
Kugelman died on February 23, 2026, at the age of 78.[29]