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'''Sergio Zyman''' (born July 30, 1945) is a [[marketing]] executive from Mexico best known as the marketer behind the failed launch of [[New Coke]].
'''Sergio Zyman''' (born July 30, 1945) is a [[marketing]] executive from Mexico best known as the marketer behind the failed launch of [[New Coke]].


==Early life and education==
==New Coke==
Zyman was borh to a [[Mexican Jewish]] family and raised in [[Mexico City]]. He attended executive programs at [[Harvard University]] and graduate schools in London, Paris and Jerusalem though his professional resume does not list a graduate degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigspeak.com/sergio-zyman.html |title=Sergio Zyman: Coca Cola CMO |publisher=Bigspeak.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-02}}</ref>
A cover story in [[Fortune Magazine]] from May 1, 1995 referred to [[New Coke]] as the biggest marketing blunder since the launch of [[Ford]]'s [[Edsel]]. [[New Coke]] was a reformulation of the original [[Coca-Cola]] flavor. After significant consumer opposition, the original flavor was reintroduced after 77 days.

''Fortune Magazine'' reported:
<blockquote>Zyman, then head of U.S. marketing, was coming off his enormously successful introduction of diet Coke when he was assigned day-to-day responsibility for top-secret Project Kansas in 1984. The zealous Mexican insisted that Coca-Cola (or Co-Coola, as he pronounces it) must act boldly to reverse its 20-year market-share decline vs. Pepsi. Zyman, a former Pepsi marketer, argued that the correct strategy was to replace 98-year-old Coke with a better-tasting cola, label it [[New Coke]]," and blare the news--which is exactly what the company did one decade ago this April. Zyman's greatest error, which some attribute to ego, was that he and his team failed to present the option of keeping old Coke on the market.</blockquote>


==Career==
==Career==
Zyman's work experience includes tenures with [[Coca-Cola]], [[PepsiCo]], and [[Procter & Gamble]], and his own firm Zyman Group. He is also known for helping introduce [[Diet Coke]] in 1982 and conceiving [[Fruitopia]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/05/01/202473/index.htm |title=SO YOU FAIL. NOW BOUNCE BACK! - May 1, 1995 |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=1995-05-01 |accessdate=2010-06-02 | first=Patricia | last=Sellers}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2004/10/20/1020chat_transcript.html |title=Q&A: Sergio Zyman |publisher=Forbes.com |date= 2004-10-20|accessdate=2010-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/779537721.html?dids=779537721:779537721&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+16%2C+2005&author=Christopher+Hutsul&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Exactly+what+was+this+man+thinking%3F%3B+New+Coke+tanked%2C+and+Sergio+Zyman+knows+why&pqatl=google |title=Exactly what was this man thinking?; New Coke tanked, and Sergio Zyman knows why |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date= 2005-01-16|accessdate=2010-06-02 | first=Christopher | last=Hutsul}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/32668610.html?dids=32668610:32668610&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+06%2C+1998&author=GREG+JOHNSON&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=ADVERTISING+%26+MARKETING%3B+Former+Coca-Cola+Exec+Joins+Launch+Media%27s+Board&pqatl=google |title=ADVERTISING & MARKETING; Former Coca-Cola Exec Joins Launch Media's Board |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=1998-08-06 |accessdate=2010-06-02 | first=Greg | last=Johnson}}</ref>
Zyman's work experience includes tenures with [[Coca-Cola]], [[PepsiCo]], and [[Procter & Gamble]], and his own firm Zyman Group. He is also known for helping introduce [[Diet Coke]] in 1982 and conceiving [[Fruitopia]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/05/01/202473/index.htm |title=SO YOU FAIL. NOW BOUNCE BACK! - May 1, 1995 |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=1995-05-01 |accessdate=2010-06-02 | first=Patricia | last=Sellers}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2004/10/20/1020chat_transcript.html |title=Q&A: Sergio Zyman |publisher=Forbes.com |date= 2004-10-20|accessdate=2010-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/779537721.html?dids=779537721:779537721&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+16%2C+2005&author=Christopher+Hutsul&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Exactly+what+was+this+man+thinking%3F%3B+New+Coke+tanked%2C+and+Sergio+Zyman+knows+why&pqatl=google |title=Exactly what was this man thinking?; New Coke tanked, and Sergio Zyman knows why |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date= 2005-01-16|accessdate=2010-06-02 | first=Christopher | last=Hutsul}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/32668610.html?dids=32668610:32668610&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+06%2C+1998&author=GREG+JOHNSON&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=ADVERTISING+%26+MARKETING%3B+Former+Coca-Cola+Exec+Joins+Launch+Media%27s+Board&pqatl=google |title=ADVERTISING & MARKETING; Former Coca-Cola Exec Joins Launch Media's Board |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=1998-08-06 |accessdate=2010-06-02 | first=Greg | last=Johnson}}</ref>


After leaving the Coca-Cola Company, Zyman launched a [[consulting]] firm called the Zyman Group, which he sold<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111239734276795869?mod=googlewsj |title=MDC Takes Majority Stake In Sergio Zyman's Firm - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=2005-04-01 |accessdate=2010-06-02 | first=Suzanne | last=Vranica}}</ref> to [[MDC Partners]] Inc., a Canadian advertising firm [[holding company]], for around $60 million in April 2005. He was replaced there as Chairman by Scott Miller, formerly with [[McCann Erickson]]. The Zyman Group is no longer in business.
After leaving the Coca-Cola Company, Zyman launched a [[consulting]] firm called the Zyman Group, which he sold<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111239734276795869?mod=googlewsj |title=MDC Takes Majority Stake In Sergio Zyman's Firm - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=2005-04-01 |accessdate=2010-06-02 | first=Suzanne | last=Vranica}}</ref> to [[MDC Partners]] Inc., a Canadian advertising firm [[holding company]], for around $60 million in April 2005. He was replaced there as Chairman by Scott Miller, formerly with [[McCann Erickson]]. The Zyman Group is no longer in business. Zyman later served as a director of Upstream Worldwide, the [[parent company]] of [[uSell.com]], but he has been replaced there and is no longer on the Executive Team.<ref>[http://www.usell.com/about.htm#Team Team]</ref> He then worked with [[JC Penney]] as a Marketing Consultant, but was fired by Chief Operating Officer Mike Ullman.<ref>[[Bloomberg News]]. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-09/ackman-calls-for-ouster-of-j-c-penney-chairman.html Ackman calls for ouster of JC Penney chairman]</ref>


===New Coke===
Sergio Zyman was most recently a director of Upstream Worldwide, the [[parent company]] of [[uSell.com]], but he has been replaced there and is no longer on the Executive Team.<ref>[http://www.usell.com/about.htm#Team Team]</ref> He worked with [[JC Penney]] as a Marketing Consultant, but was fired by Chief Operating Officer Mike Ullman.<ref>[[Bloomberg News]]. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-09/ackman-calls-for-ouster-of-j-c-penney-chairman.html Ackman calls for ouster of JC Penney chairman]</ref>
A cover story in [[Fortune Magazine]] from May 1, 1995 referred to [[New Coke]] as the biggest marketing blunder since the launch of [[Ford]]'s [[Edsel]]. [[New Coke]] was a reformulation of the original [[Coca-Cola]] flavor. After significant consumer opposition, the original flavor was reintroduced after 77 days. ''Fortune Magazine'' reported:

<blockquote>Zyman, then head of U.S. marketing, was coming off his enormously successful introduction of diet Coke when he was assigned day-to-day responsibility for top-secret Project Kansas in 1984. The zealous Mexican insisted that Coca-Cola (or Co-Coola, as he pronounces it) must act boldly to reverse its 20-year market-share decline vs. Pepsi. Zyman, a former Pepsi marketer, argued that the correct strategy was to replace 98-year-old Coke with a better-tasting cola, label it [[New Coke]]," and blare the news--which is exactly what the company did one decade ago this April. Zyman's greatest error, which some attribute to ego, was that he and his team failed to present the option of keeping old Coke on the market.</blockquote>
==Early life and education==
Sergio Zyman is of Mexican [[Jewish]] heritage and is originally a native of [[Mexico City]]. He attended executive programs at [[Harvard University]] and graduate schools in London, Paris and Jerusalem though his professional resume does not list a graduate degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigspeak.com/sergio-zyman.html |title=Sergio Zyman: Coca Cola CMO |publisher=Bigspeak.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-02}}</ref>


==Published works==
==Published works==

Revision as of 12:03, 7 May 2019

Sergio Zyman
Born (1945-07-30) July 30, 1945 (age 79)
NationalityMexican
EducationHarvard University (MBA)
OccupationMarketer
Known forFailed launch of New Coke
Notable workThe End of Marketing as We Know It (2002)

Sergio Zyman (born July 30, 1945) is a marketing executive from Mexico best known as the marketer behind the failed launch of New Coke.

Early life and education

Zyman was borh to a Mexican Jewish family and raised in Mexico City. He attended executive programs at Harvard University and graduate schools in London, Paris and Jerusalem though his professional resume does not list a graduate degree.[1]

Career

Zyman's work experience includes tenures with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble, and his own firm Zyman Group. He is also known for helping introduce Diet Coke in 1982 and conceiving Fruitopia in 1994.[2][3][4][5]

After leaving the Coca-Cola Company, Zyman launched a consulting firm called the Zyman Group, which he sold[6] to MDC Partners Inc., a Canadian advertising firm holding company, for around $60 million in April 2005. He was replaced there as Chairman by Scott Miller, formerly with McCann Erickson. The Zyman Group is no longer in business. Zyman later served as a director of Upstream Worldwide, the parent company of uSell.com, but he has been replaced there and is no longer on the Executive Team.[7] He then worked with JC Penney as a Marketing Consultant, but was fired by Chief Operating Officer Mike Ullman.[8]

New Coke

A cover story in Fortune Magazine from May 1, 1995 referred to New Coke as the biggest marketing blunder since the launch of Ford's Edsel. New Coke was a reformulation of the original Coca-Cola flavor. After significant consumer opposition, the original flavor was reintroduced after 77 days. Fortune Magazine reported:

Zyman, then head of U.S. marketing, was coming off his enormously successful introduction of diet Coke when he was assigned day-to-day responsibility for top-secret Project Kansas in 1984. The zealous Mexican insisted that Coca-Cola (or Co-Coola, as he pronounces it) must act boldly to reverse its 20-year market-share decline vs. Pepsi. Zyman, a former Pepsi marketer, argued that the correct strategy was to replace 98-year-old Coke with a better-tasting cola, label it New Coke," and blare the news--which is exactly what the company did one decade ago this April. Zyman's greatest error, which some attribute to ego, was that he and his team failed to present the option of keeping old Coke on the market.

Published works

Zyman has written four books on marketing and advertising, including:

  • The End of Advertising as We Know It with Armin Brott. John Wiley & Sons, 2002
  • The End of Marketing as We Know It

References

  1. ^ "Sergio Zyman: Coca Cola CMO". Bigspeak.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  2. ^ Sellers, Patricia (1995-05-01). "SO YOU FAIL. NOW BOUNCE BACK! - May 1, 1995". Money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  3. ^ "Q&A: Sergio Zyman". Forbes.com. 2004-10-20. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  4. ^ Hutsul, Christopher (2005-01-16). "Exactly what was this man thinking?; New Coke tanked, and Sergio Zyman knows why". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  5. ^ Johnson, Greg (1998-08-06). "ADVERTISING & MARKETING; Former Coca-Cola Exec Joins Launch Media's Board". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  6. ^ Vranica, Suzanne (2005-04-01). "MDC Takes Majority Stake In Sergio Zyman's Firm - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  7. ^ Team
  8. ^ Bloomberg News. Ackman calls for ouster of JC Penney chairman