Sander Flaum Obituary, Death – On Sunday, Sander Flaum, a veteran of the advertising agency business who was known for his humanism as much as his strategic skill, passed away after a brief battle with illness. After receiving his degree from The Ohio State University (where he double majored in journalism and psychology) and completing his time in the military, Flaum worked for Lederle Laboratories for a total of 18 years. During his time at Lederle, he was responsible for the launch or restaging of eighty different products and progressed through the ranks to become the director of marketing as well as the head of vaccines and Rx drugs.
In 1988, Flaum made a successful shift into the world of advertising agencies at Euro RSCG Becker, ultimately serving as chairman and CEO of the company. Seven of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies in existence at the time were clients of the agency when he was at the helm. Later on, he established Flaum Idea Group and Flaum Navigators, both of which he led as CEO. He authored a number of books and often contributed essays to MM+M and Med Ad News. He was in high demand as a public speaker and was known for his prolific writing.
The news that Flaum will be honored by the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame in 2023 was shared with the public last month. The celebration of his life and legacy will take place during the induction ceremony for the organization that will take place on February 9 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. The willingness of Flaum to act as a guide for others is a significant component of his legacy. Many of these people are currently in prominent positions within the pharmaceutical industry or within government agencies.
“I was working at a different NYC firm in 1985 when I first crossed paths with Sander Flaum. At the time, I was a lowly account executive. “Sander took the time to mentor a young and impressionable account person,” said Jay Carter, executive vice president and director of business development for AbelsonTaylor. “Sander was already a “mover and shaker.” “It’s incredible, but every time we ran into each other, he knew who I was and was just as friendly and courteous as before. The aspect of him that I will miss the most is his ability to select the appropriate analogy to convey the message he wanted to convey regarding an important matter… as well as to be an unyielding supporter of one’s cause. We will miss having him around.”
“Never one to settle for merely being good, Sander exemplified the quest of excellence in all facets of his life and career, including his professional endeavors. “And this pursuit took him to success after success,” remarked Calcium founder and chairman Steven Michaelson. “And this pursuit carried him to success after success.” “Even more significantly, Sander’s quest for greatness transformed the way the industry markets its brands and encouraged legions of individuals to live and work according to standards that are comparable to those that Sander set. The incredible living legacy of a person who made excellence truly a way of life is shown by both his accomplishments and the people he has guided and inspired throughout his life.
Flaum served as vice chair of the board of directors at the American Institute for Stuttering in addition to his leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry and the agency where he worked. In addition to that, he was a member of the board of directors for the James Cancer Center at the Ohio State University Medical Center, the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, and the Fordham University Graduate School of Business. In anticipation of Flaum’s entry into the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame at the beginning of the following year, MM+M will publish a more in-depth study on him.