Co-founder of AKQA, Tom Bedecarre, Passes Away
Tom Bedecarre, Pioneer of Digital Advertising, Passes Away at 69
Tom Bedecarre – the champion of the digital advertising realm – has left us at the age of 69. A creative alchemist, Bedecarre fused technology and advertising in an unprecedented way, leading one of the world's premier digital agencies for over a decade.
In a career spanning over three decades, Bedecarre blew the doors off conventional advertising, bringing innovation to the forefront. His extraordinary leadership saw AKQA thrive as a dominant force in the industry.
Bedecarre’s quest for groundbreaking ideas led him to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. Swapping the Midwest for the coasts, he landed in New York, embarking on his career as an assistant account executive at Ogilvy & Mather in 1981[1].
As the '80s gave way to the '90s, Bedecarre found himself back in the heart of the tech explosion – Silicon Valley. Climbing the ranks at Hal Riney & Partners, Bedecarre honed his skills, assembling a formidable advertising arsenal ready for action[1].
Taking a leap of faith, he left Hal Riney in 1990 and joined forces with his fellow visionaries to co-found Atlas Citron Haligman & Bedecarré. This venture flourished, eventuality becoming Citron Haligman Bedecarré, a leading agency solving technology-based challenges for clients during the dotcom boom[1].
2001 marked Bedecarre’s next chapter, when alongside Ajaz Ahmed, he co-founded another digital powerhouse, AKQA. Under his guidance, AKQA expanded into China, being the first to operate as a wholly-owned foreign enterprise in 2006[1].
Paving the way for integrating social media and digital campaigns, AKQA's ingenuity attracted the attention of WPP, who acquired it in 2012. At the time, it was one of the largest acquisitions of a digital agency ever[2]. Bedecarre became the chair of AKQA, and head of WPP Ventures, with Ahmed taking on the role of CEO of AKQA[2].
During his tenure at AKQA, the agency garnered more than 600 awards and was recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies four times. Bedecarre was also honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2013[2].
Stepping down from AKQA in 2016, Bedecarre refashioned himself as an industry speaker, mentor, educator, and consultant, guiding upstarts like Kate Farms and Viralspace.ai. As a judge, Bedecarre presided over esteemed industry events, serving as president of the Innovation Lions Jury at Cannes Lions in 2014[2].
Remembered as an “influential leader, savvy entrepreneur, business visionary, and all-around good person," Bedecarre indelibly etched his mark on the advertising world. His legacy will continue inspiring future generations. "Tom has left an indelible mark on the past, present, and future of advertising," eulogized AKQA - his extended family[2].
April 1 11:28am ET: An earlier version of this article stated that Bedecarre was 70, but has been corrected to say he was 69.
Footnotes
- [PersonalgetData] (base)
- [EnrichedArticle1] (enrichment data on AKQA)
- [EnrichedArticle2] (enrichment data on recent developments at AKQA)
- [EnrichedArticle3] (enrichment data on AKQA's expansion and evolution under WPP)
- In his early days, Bedecarre integrated his finance and business acumen while pursuing an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern.
- As he delved deeper into the industry, Bedecarre made significant strides in retirement planning by contributing to the growth of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) throughout his career.
- Upon co-founding Citron Haligman Bedecarré, Bedecarre's technology-focused approach revolutionized the advertising industry, creating a strong foundation for future businesses.
- After stepping down from AKQA, Bedecarre continued to apply his expertise, providing guidance on technology integration in various businesses.
- Bedecarre's impact on the advertising and digital industry was immense, and his contributions ensured a lasting influence even after his retirement from AKQA.
