The DMN team is sorry to announce the peaceful passing last month of Gordon Grossman, a pioneer of direct marketing analytics, aged 87.
Beginning his career at “Reader’s Digest” in its heyday, he rose to become circulation director, overseeing global sales and marketing, senior EVP, and a member of the Board of Directors. Grossman’s 17 year career at the “Digest” saw it become the world’s most popular magazine. While there he developed the first direct mail sweepstakes, and developed regression analysis for testing mail order techniques.
From 1974, as head of his own consulting business, he drove direct mail and other marketing initiatives for clients like Xerox and American Express.
He was widely honored during his career, being inducted into the Direct Mail Marketing Hall of Fame in 1980, and the Digital Marketing and Analytics Hall of Fame in 1995. He won a Silver Apple Award for lifetime achievements in direct marketing in 2006. He was the author of Confessions of a Direct Mail Guy (2006).
He is survived by his son from his first marriage, Earl and wife Suzanne, son-in-law Ken McAleer, five grandchildren, one great grandson, second wife, April Herbert, stepchildren, Robin, Lauren and Michael Herbert, and five step grandchildren.
