Kenneth Roman

Kenneth Roman (September 6, 1930 – April 22, 2026) was an American author and advertising executive.

Life and career Roman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 6, 1930. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1952, where he was editor-in-chief of the undergraduate daily newspaper.

He joined Ogilvy & Mather in 1963 and served as chairman from 1985 to 1989. In 1989, WPP plc, a British advertising holding company, acquired the Ogilvy Group for $864 million, which, at the time, was the most ever paid for an advertising agency. David Ogilvy initially resisted the sale, but eventually accepted the title of WPP honorary chairman, a position he relinquished in 1992.

After 26 years with Ogilvy, Roman joined American Express in a senior communications role before becoming a consultant, board director, and author. After his departure Graham Phillips became the chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide.

Roman was the co-author of two influential business books – How to Advertise and Writing That Works and the author of a 2009 biography of David Ogilvy entitled The King of Madison Avenue: David Ogilvy and the Making of Modern Advertising.

He lived in New York City with his wife. Roman died in Manhattan on April 22, 2026, at the age of 95.