Emerson H. Foote (1906 – July 5, 1992) was an American business and advertising executive who served as former chairman of McCann-Erickson.[1] Foote later became an anti-smoking activist after resigning from McCann-Erickson.[2]
Emerson Foote was born in 1906 in Sheffield, Alabama.[3] He graduated from Los Angeles High School in June 1922.[4] Foote then enrolled at the University of Southern California in 1924.[5]
Foote first worked on tobacco accounts in December 1938, for the American Tobacco Company.[6] In 1942, Foote was a co-founder of Foote, Cone & Beldin.[7] In 1948, Foote caused controversy when as president of Foote, Cone & Beldin, cancelled a $12 million Lucky Strike account.[2][8] Foote served as president of Foote, Cone & Beldin until 1950.[9] Foote joined McCann-Erickson on October 19, 1951[10] as vice president and served in that capacity until 1957.[8] He was named president of McCann-Erickson in 1960 and served until 1963.[1] Foote was named chairman in 1963.[8] In 1964, Foote resigned as chairman from McCann-Erickson due to his opposition handling cigarette accounts.[11] Foote was later elected the first chairman of the National Interagency Council on Smoking and Health[12] and took office on December 1, 1964.[13] Foote was also a life member of the board of directors of the American Cancer Society.[14]
Foote suffered from stuttering and bipolar disorder.[15] Foote was a former chain-smoker[1][2] and quit around 1959.[8] Foote married his wife, Sabina Fromhold, on April 18, 1938.[16] His wife predeceased him in 1985.[1] They had four children: one son and three daughters.[1] Foote died on July 5, 1992, in Carmel, New York, at age 85 due to complications from an appendicitis operation.[1][7]
Foote is referenced in the AMC series Mad Men in the episode Blowing Smoke, when Don Draper after losing the Lucky Strike account, issues an ad for The New York Times, "Why I'm Quitting Tobacco".[17][18]
