Jerry Reitman
{{Short description|American author and businessman (1938–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jerry Reitman
| image = Jerry Reitman and President Obama.jpg
| caption = Reitman with President Barack Obama in 2009
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|01|09}}
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|11|05|1938|01|09}}
| death_place =
| nationality =
| known_for =
| education = Pennsylvania State University (BS)
| alma_mater =
| employer =
| occupation = Author
Businessman
Advertising executive
}}
Jerry Reitman (January 9, 1938 – November 5, 2024) was an American author, businessman and advertising executive. Reitman was the founder of the Reitman Group. He also worked for American Express, serving as the vice president of marketing for the CBS Columbia House division, as the CEO of Scali, McCabe, Sloves,{{Cite news|last=Dougherty|first=Philip H.|date=1986-03-13|title=ADVERTISING; UNIT OF SCALI, McCABE NAMES NEW PRESIDENT|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/13/business/advertising-unit-of-scali-mccabe-names-new-president.html|access-date=2020-10-05|issn=0362-4331}} the International Head and Executive Vice President of Ogilvy,{{Cite news|last=Dougherty|first=Philip H.|date=1982-12-02|title=Advertising; Scali Going Into Direct Marketing|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/02/business/advertising-scali-going-into-direct-marketing.html|access-date=2020-10-05|issn=0362-4331}} and the Executive Vice President of Leo Burnett Worldwide.{{Cite web|last=Lazarus|first=George|title=LEO BURNETT LOOKS DIRECTLY TO INSIDE|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-10-24-8603200148-story.html|access-date=2020-10-05|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US}}
Early life
Reitman was born on January 9, 1938 to Benjamin and Ruth Reitman. He grew up in a Jewish family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} His father was the owner of multiple shoe retail stores. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School and went on to attend Penn State where he graduated with a degree in finance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-reitman-7326015|title=Jerry Reitman}}
Career
Reitman started his career at Ziff Davis as an ad salesman. While at Ziff Davis, he went on to become the director of their British Magazine of the Month Club.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/02/business/advertising-scali-going-into-direct-marketing.html|title=Advertising; Scali Going Into Direct Marketing|website=The New York Times|date=December 2, 1982|access-date=July 27, 2020|last1=Dougherty|first1=Philip H.}} He then spent time working at Publishers Clearing House and Academic Media Company.
In 1974, Reitman became the International Head and Executive Vice President of Ogilvy and was successful in growing Oglivy from two offices to 26 offices over a four-year period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-09-26-9409260076-story.html|title=DRAWING ON MAILING LIST, MCDONALD'S PLANS TO MARKET DIRECTLY TO MOMS|website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=July 27, 2020}} In 1982, Reitman was named the President and CEO of Scali, McCabe, Sloves where he was tasked with expanding the company.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/13/business/advertising-unit-of-scali-mccabe-names-new-president.html|title=ADVERTISING; UNIT OF SCALI, McCABE NAMES NEW PRESIDENT|website=The New York Times|date=March 13, 1986|access-date=July 27, 2020|last1=Dougherty|first1=Philip H.}} In 1985, Reitman became the Executive Vice President of Leo Burnett Worldwide.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/24/business/advertising-burnett-sets-its-own-pace.html|title=Advertising; Burnett Sets Its Own Pace|website=The New York Times|date=October 24, 1986|access-date=July 27, 2020|last1=Dougherty|first1=Philip H.}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=acVTCwAAQBAJ&dq=jerry+reitman&pg=PA62|title=The Bible on Leadership|date=June 18, 2002|publisher=AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn|isbn=9780814426630|access-date=July 27, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.dk/detail/news-photo/mr-jerry-reitman-executive-vice-president-of-leo-burnett-news-photo/1079635314|title=Mr. Jerry Reitman, Executive Vice President, of Leo Burnett USA |website=Getty Images|access-date=July 27, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcgrawmarketing.com/follow-up-convergence-marketing-by-richard-rosen/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727224137/https://www.mcgrawmarketing.com/follow-up-convergence-marketing-by-richard-rosen/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 27, 2020|title=Follow-up: Convergence Marketing by Richard Rosen|website=McGraw Marketing|access-date=July 27, 2020}} He retired from Leo Burnett after working there for 15 years.
Reitman published Beyond 2000: The Future of Direct Marketing in 2000. The book talks about the future of the direct marketing industry.
Personal life and death
Reitman was a resident of Chicago, Illinois. He also owned homes in Venice, California and Stockholm, Sweden. Reitman was an avid tennis player and sports fan and an aspiring woodworker.{{Cite Twitter profile|jerryreitman2}}{{Primary source inline|date=July 2020}} His nephew is professional tennis player Oskar Wikberg. He died November 5, 2024, at the age of 86.{{Cite web |url=https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/sherman-oaks-ca/jerry-reitman-12069168 |title=Jerry Irving Reitman |website=NeputneSociety.com |access-date=November 11, 2024}}
Charitable work
Reitman served as the chairman of the board of Governors at the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals for more than 20 years. As a result of his work with the Children's Miracle Network, he was invited to the White House in 2009 and met with President Barack Obama.{{Cite web|url=https://draytonbird.com/2009/05/jerry-meets-the-president/|title=Jerry meets the President|website=Drayton Bird Association|access-date=July 27, 2020}}
=Awards=
Reitman received recognition and many awards for his successful work as an advertising executive. For example, the city of New Orleans, Louisiana gifted him with the key to the city. Other awards he has received include the Direct Marketers Silver Apple, the Charles S. Downs Award and the Direct Marketer of Year Award.{{Cite web|url=https://dmcny.org/silver-apples/nominations|title=Honorees|website=Direct Marketing Club of New York|access-date=July 27, 2020}}