Schechter Retires as Chairman of Interbrand to Head Charitable Branding Foundation

Business Wire, Nov 18, 1999

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18,1999--

Alvin H. Schechter, one of the senior figures of corporate branding in the U.S., has retired as Chairman of Interbrand Corporation to end a career that included some of the major product introductions and corporate identities of the past four decades. Founder of The Schechter Group, Schechter's long term clients included The Coca-Cola Company, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, General Motors and BankBoston. His firm created the packaging for the launch of Diet Coke and the re-launch of Coca-Cola Classic; designed cigarette brands such as More and Now for Reynolds; invented the term "Florida Squeezed" for Tropicana; named Smartlease and Delphi for General Motors; created the corporate identity for Taco Bell, KFC and H.J. Heinz; and garnered more than 100 professional awards for creativity.

Schechter became Chairman of Interbrand when his company merged with that firm in 1993. Both consultancies had previously been acquired by Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC).

Schechter will continue to be associated with Interbrand as Chairman of The Interbrand Foundation, a non-profit group that coordinates the company's staff and facilities worldwide to develop branding strategies for non-profit charitable organizations that cannot afford to pay for Interbrand's services.

Charles E. Brymer, CEO of Interbrand Group, said, "Alvin Schechter is among the pioneers of the corporate identity discipline. His commitment to strategic and creative excellence will be of tremendous value to the charitable organizations we plan to serve through the Interbrand Foundation."

The Foundation will provide up to $2 million per year worth of brand consulting services. Schechter noted, "Our services will help these organizations to raise their public profiles, clarify their missions, attract contributions and motivate staff."

After graduating from the Yale School of Drama as a scenic and lighting designer, Schechter took a temporary job with the legendary Raymond Loewy to design department store interiors. He never returned to the theatre. After a stint with Lippincott and Margulies, he started his own firm in 1962, which was acquired by Omnicom in 1989.

Interbrand, the world's largest branding consultancy, offers a comprehensive array of consulting services to assist in the creation, enhancement, maintenance and valuation of a company's most valuable assets -- its brands. Founded in 1974, Interbrand has offices in 16 countries around the world. Clients include Lucent Technologies, General Motors, Procter & Gamble, Texaco, Wal-Mart, Kellogg's, Pharmacia & Upjohn and Deutsche Telekom, among others.

For more information, please contact Laurie Dodge at 212-798-7644 or email at ldodge@interbrandny.com