How the Advertising Business Caught COVID-19

Edward Russell spent 25 years in advertising at some of the world's largest firms. After earning bachelor's and master's degrees in advertising, he joined Ted Bates in New York — then the world's largest agency. Following its acquisition by Saatchi & Saatchi, Russell moved to Frankfurt as European account director, arriving just before the Berlin Wall fell and helping open offices across Eastern Europe.

He then became CEO of Leo Burnett's Warsaw office, one of the agency's most awarded, before moving to Chicago to lead their Procter & Gamble international business — over 400 brands in 98 countries and nearly $1 billion in billings.

Russell has taught at the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University since 2003, authored Leo Burnett's "LeoSmarts" training program, and wrote "The Fundamentals of Marketing" from Bloomsbury Publishing. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Rebecca, and they have two grown daughters.