Alan M. Pottasch | Creator of Pepsi ads, 79
Alan M. Pottasch, 79, who was behind such ad campaigns as the "Pepsi Generation," has died, the company said.
Alan M. Pottasch, 79, who was behind such ad campaigns as the "Pepsi Generation," has died, the company said.
Mr. Pottasch, who lived in New Fairfield, Conn., died in his sleep July 27 in Los Angeles, where he was working on a TV commercial, PepsiCo Inc. said. Although he retired in 1991, he continued to work for the company as a consultant.
He was the creative force behind five decades of Pepsi ad campaigns, the company said. He started working for the company in 1957, and as a marketer recognized the shift from promoting products to selling a way of life.
He produced ads such as the 1980s Pepsi commercials that starred Michael Jackson, as well as those featuring celebrities such as Ray Charles, Cindy Crawford and Britney Spears and Beyoncé.
He held a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Pennsylvania State University. He also attended directing school in New York and participated in the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.- AP