Kenneth Richard Kaess Jr. (July 30, 1954 – 27 March 2006) was CEO of advertising agency, DDB Worldwide.[1]
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut and raised in Watertown, Connecticut, Kaess graduated from Vassar College.[2]
Kaess began in 1977 at Doyle Dane Bernbach, which was later renamed DDB. He left for a vice president/management supervisor position at Jordan, McGrath, Case & Taylor, then went to New World Entertainment, where he was responsible for the Emmy Award-winning Muppet Babies.[2]
He returned to DDB to run the Los Angeles and New York offices before being appointed as Worldwide President in 1999 and Chief Executive Officer in 2001.[3]
He was the first executive to serve two consecutive terms as head of the American Association of Advertising Agencies.[1]
He died at his home in Westport, Connecticut, aged 51, of cancer.[3]