Doug Leeds
Encyclopedia
Douglas B. "Doug" Leeds was an advertising/media executive who is the founder and current Chairman/CEO of Storeboard Media
LLC
. Leeds is also known for producing two Broadway shows and serving as President of The American Theatre Wing
, which founded, manages and presents The Tony Awards annually on CBS Television.
Doug was a 1965 graduate of Worcester Academy and matriculated to Babson College. He served as a trustee for both.
, Duane Reade
, etc.) throughout the United States. The company's media reach is over one billion consumer impressions per month. Among its current advertising clients are: P&G, Colgate
, Unilever
, Beiersdorf
, L'Oréal
, Johnson & Johnson
, Coca-Cola
and Alberto Culver.
Before founding StoreBoard Media LLC, Leeds was President and CEO of the award-winning point-of-purchase advertising firm, Thomson-Leeds Company, Inc. and worked with clients including American Express
, Sony
, Philip Morris
, Ford and Microsoft
. In 1967 the company was acquired by Ogilvy & Mather
which subsequently was purchased by WPP Group
. Leeds who continued as company President/CEO led a group in 1993 to successfully purchase Thomson-Leeds Company back from WPP
. The company went on to win more awards (POPAI) for designing and producing outstanding merchandising programs than any company in the world. In September 2000 Leeds sold the company to Array Market Group and continued as Chairman of the Thomson-Leeds division until 2003, when he left to create The Tori Group, Inc. In 2005 The Tori Group, along with The Jeffrey Development Group Ltd., purchased Impact Media and created StoreBoard Media LLC.
In developing numerous innovative merchandising concepts, Leeds was granted patents from the US Patent Office ranging from a retractable pen for American Express
to a suction cup window display holder for Hunter Douglas
Inc
.
Doug Leeds has been active in the industry trade association, POPAI (Point of Purchase Advertising International), serving as Vice Chair of its Board of Directors and Chair of numerous committees, including its Annual Conference and Marketplace Show at Jacob Javits Convention Center. In 2002 Doug Leeds was elected as the youngest member ever to The POPAI Hall of Fame. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Leeds has published numerous articles in trade journals such as BrandWeek and Potentials In Marketing. He also authored chapters in the best-selling college textbooks on sales promotion and merchandising: The Sales Promotion Handbook, published by Darnell and contributed to McGraw-Hill's The Customer is Always Right! As a merchandising expert, Leeds has been featured in The Wall Street Journal
, The New York Times
and has been a guest on CNBC
's Money Watch and CNN
's Power Lunch
. Leeds also served on the corporate boards of University Home Services Inc, Auto Data Systems and C-360, Inc.
, which among other activities, is the founder of The Tony Awards for excellence on Broadway. The American Theatre Wing presents the Tony Awards annually on CBS
with The Broadway League
. Leeds joined The American Theatre Wing in 1990, was elected Secretary/Treasurer in 1991 and Vice-Chairman in 2003. In his time with The American Theatre Wing Leeds has chaired multiple committees including, Benefit, Finance, Grants, By-Laws and Strategic Planning. From 2004–2008 he served as President. From 2003–2008 he co-hosted Working In The Theatre, which is telecast on CUNY TV
weekly in select markets. He also represents the organization as a member of the Tony Management Committee and the Tony Administration Committee.
In 1983, with Chappy Morris and Christine Biddle, Leeds founded and Chaired (1983–1999) The Lobby Gallery Associates at The Whitney Museum of American Art
, which became one of the leading young professional groups supporting a museum in the United States. The group has since been renamed The Whitney Contemporaries. In 1992 Leeds was elected Trustee of the museum and Chair of its Membership Committee.
Leeds has also served as a trustee of Guild Hall of East Hampton, The Checkerboard Foundation and The Frick Council of The Frick Museum. In addition, he was a board member of Ronald McDonald House Associates and is currently a member of The International Advisory Board of the Children's Radio Foundation and The Dream Team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
which fulfills wishes of Sloan-Kettering patients and their families. Leeds is a graduate and past trustee of Worcester Academy
(Worcester, Ma) and Babson College
(Wellesley, Ma.) where he received his BS degree in 1970.
Storeboard Media
Storeboard Media LLC is a media sales company that currently has the exclusive rights to place indoor billboards, called "StoreBoards", on the security pedestals at the entrances and exits of more than 13,725 chain drug stores across the United States, including CVS Pharmacy, Duane Reade, Kerr...
LLC
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
. Leeds is also known for producing two Broadway shows and serving as President of The American Theatre Wing
American Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
, which founded, manages and presents The Tony Awards annually on CBS Television.
Doug was a 1965 graduate of Worcester Academy and matriculated to Babson College. He served as a trustee for both.
Advertising & media career (1976-2011)
In 2006 Doug Leeds founded Storeboard Media, an indoor billboard company which holds the exclusive right to place advertising on security pedestals at the front entrance of over 19,000 retail chain stores (CVS, WalgreensWalgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
, Duane Reade
Duane Reade
Duane Reade Inc., a subsidiary of the Walgreen Company, is a chain of pharmacy and convenience stores, primarily located in New York City, known for its high volume small store layouts in densely populated Manhattan locations...
, etc.) throughout the United States. The company's media reach is over one billion consumer impressions per month. Among its current advertising clients are: P&G, Colgate
Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive Company is an American diversified multinational corporation focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products . Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of...
, Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
, Beiersdorf
Beiersdorf
Beiersdorf AG is a multinational corporation based in Hamburg, Germany, manufacturing personal care products. Its brands include Elastoplast, Eucerin , Labello, and Nivea....
, L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
, Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and Alberto Culver.
Before founding StoreBoard Media LLC, Leeds was President and CEO of the award-winning point-of-purchase advertising firm, Thomson-Leeds Company, Inc. and worked with clients including American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Philip Morris
Altria Group
Altria Group, Inc. is based in Henrico County, Virginia, and is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Inc., Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. It is one of the world's largest tobacco corporations...
, Ford and Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. In 1967 the company was acquired by Ogilvy & Mather
Ogilvy & Mather
Ogilvy & Mather is an international advertising, marketing and public relations agency based in Manhattan and owned by the WPP Group. The company operates 497 offices in 125 countries with approximately 16,000 employees.-History:...
which subsequently was purchased by WPP Group
WPP Group
WPP plc is a global media communications services company with its main management office in London, United Kingdom and its executive office in Dublin, Ireland. It is the world's largest advertising group by revenues, and employs over 150,000 people in 2,400 offices in 107 countries...
. Leeds who continued as company President/CEO led a group in 1993 to successfully purchase Thomson-Leeds Company back from WPP
WPP Group
WPP plc is a global media communications services company with its main management office in London, United Kingdom and its executive office in Dublin, Ireland. It is the world's largest advertising group by revenues, and employs over 150,000 people in 2,400 offices in 107 countries...
. The company went on to win more awards (POPAI) for designing and producing outstanding merchandising programs than any company in the world. In September 2000 Leeds sold the company to Array Market Group and continued as Chairman of the Thomson-Leeds division until 2003, when he left to create The Tori Group, Inc. In 2005 The Tori Group, along with The Jeffrey Development Group Ltd., purchased Impact Media and created StoreBoard Media LLC.
In developing numerous innovative merchandising concepts, Leeds was granted patents from the US Patent Office ranging from a retractable pen for American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
to a suction cup window display holder for Hunter Douglas
Hunter Douglas
Hunter Douglas N.V. is a Dutch public corporation and major worldwide manufacturer of window coverings and architectural products. Hunter Douglas has its head office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and a management office in Lucerne, Switzerland...
Inc
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
.
Doug Leeds has been active in the industry trade association, POPAI (Point of Purchase Advertising International), serving as Vice Chair of its Board of Directors and Chair of numerous committees, including its Annual Conference and Marketplace Show at Jacob Javits Convention Center. In 2002 Doug Leeds was elected as the youngest member ever to The POPAI Hall of Fame. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Leeds has published numerous articles in trade journals such as BrandWeek and Potentials In Marketing. He also authored chapters in the best-selling college textbooks on sales promotion and merchandising: The Sales Promotion Handbook, published by Darnell and contributed to McGraw-Hill's The Customer is Always Right! As a merchandising expert, Leeds has been featured in The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and has been a guest on CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
's Money Watch and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's Power Lunch
Power Lunch
Power Lunch is a television business news program on CNBC, airing between 1:00pm and 2:00pm Eastern Time. It is presented by Tyler Mathisen, Sue Herera, and Michelle Caruso-Cabrera. Simon Hobbs will fill in on occasion. Bill Griffeth anchored the program alone from 1996 to 2002...
. Leeds also served on the corporate boards of University Home Services Inc, Auto Data Systems and C-360, Inc.
The American Theatre Wing and other not-for-profit activities
Doug Leeds has been an active board member of multiple not-for-profit educational, cultural and health organizations. He is known for his visible roll as President of The American Theatre WingAmerican Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
, which among other activities, is the founder of The Tony Awards for excellence on Broadway. The American Theatre Wing presents the Tony Awards annually on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
with The Broadway League
The Broadway League
The Broadway League, formerly the League of American Theatres and Producers and League of New York Theatres and Producers, is the national trade association for the Broadway theatre industry...
. Leeds joined The American Theatre Wing in 1990, was elected Secretary/Treasurer in 1991 and Vice-Chairman in 2003. In his time with The American Theatre Wing Leeds has chaired multiple committees including, Benefit, Finance, Grants, By-Laws and Strategic Planning. From 2004–2008 he served as President. From 2003–2008 he co-hosted Working In The Theatre, which is telecast on CUNY TV
CUNY TV
CUNY TV is a non-commercial Educational-access television cable station in New York City, part of The City University of New York's university system. It provides tele-course programming varying from mathematics, physics and biology to history, art and social studies. It also provides cultural...
weekly in select markets. He also represents the organization as a member of the Tony Management Committee and the Tony Administration Committee.
In 1983, with Chappy Morris and Christine Biddle, Leeds founded and Chaired (1983–1999) The Lobby Gallery Associates at The Whitney Museum of American Art
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art, often referred to simply as "the Whitney", is an art museum with a focus on 20th- and 21st-century American art. Located at 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street in New York City, the Whitney's permanent collection contains more than 18,000 works in a wide variety of...
, which became one of the leading young professional groups supporting a museum in the United States. The group has since been renamed The Whitney Contemporaries. In 1992 Leeds was elected Trustee of the museum and Chair of its Membership Committee.
Leeds has also served as a trustee of Guild Hall of East Hampton, The Checkerboard Foundation and The Frick Council of The Frick Museum. In addition, he was a board member of Ronald McDonald House Associates and is currently a member of The International Advisory Board of the Children's Radio Foundation and The Dream Team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
which fulfills wishes of Sloan-Kettering patients and their families. Leeds is a graduate and past trustee of Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy is an independent coeducational preparatory school spread over in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States. The school is divided into a middle school, serving approximately 150 students in grades six to eight, and an upper school, serving approximately 500 students in...
(Worcester, Ma) and Babson College
Babson College
Babson College is a private business school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts near Boston.- History :Babson College was founded by Roger Babson on September 3, 1919, as the Babson Institute. It was renamed "Babson College" in 1969...
(Wellesley, Ma.) where he received his BS degree in 1970.