Stan Freberg, whom Advertising Age called the father of funny commercials and one of the 20th Century's most influential admen, died April 7 in Santa Monica. He was 88.
A jack-of-all-trades, Freberg recorded hit comedy records, voiced hundreds of cartoon characters and did radio sketches for CBS.
The self-described "guerrilla satirist" worked as creative consultant for ad agencies.
His output "shattered Madison Avenue conventions," according to today's New York Times obit.
The paper reported that Freberg attacked adland's greatest heresy: lampooning the deficiencies of a paying client's own products.
For instance, an ad for Pacific Airlines featured attendants handing out "survival kits" and one for pit-less prunes promised to get rid of the wrinkles next.
Freberg did ads for General Motors, US Army and Presbyterian Church, among others, earning 21 Clio awards.
AMC's "The Mad Men" paid tribute to him in 2010, using a bit from his 1951 soap opera parody.
Freberg's humor did draw some eyebrows. CBS Radio dropped his program because of jokes about the hydrogen bomb.
He also angered TV executives by refusing to air tobacco advertising.
Abandon traditional content plans focused on a linear buyer progression and instead embrace a consumer journey where no matter which direction they travel, they get what they need, stressed marketing pro Ashley Faus during O'Dwyer's webinar Apr. 2.
Freelance marketers and the companies that hire them are both satisfied with the current work arrangements they have and anticipate the volume of freelance opportunities to increase in the future, according to new data on the growing freelance marketing economy.
Home Depot's new attempt to occupy two market positions at once will require careful positioning strategy and execution to make it work.
Verizon snags Peloton Interactive chief marketing officer Leslie Berland as its new CMO, effective Jan. 9. Berland succeeds Diego Scotti, who left Verizon earlier this year. 
Norm de Greve, who has been CMO at CVS Health since 2015, is taking the top marketing job at General Motors, effective July 31.
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