Contact Center Solutions Industry News

TMCNet: Ad exec Charles Fruit dies at 61: Edwardsville native merged A-B, Coke with sports

[May 30, 2008]

Ad exec Charles Fruit dies at 61: Edwardsville native merged A-B, Coke with sports

(The Telegraph (Alton, IL)(KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 30--EDWARDSVILLE -- Services are scheduled for today for an Edwardsville native who became one of the world's top advertising executives.

Charles B. "Chuck" Fruit, 61, died Tuesday of a heart attack after his customary morning swim in Atlanta, where he lived.

His brother, John Fruit of Edwardsville, said Thursday that Chuck Fruit was a basketball player and swimmer when he grew up in Edwardsville and was on the swim team at Williams College in New York state.

After college he went to work for Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., where he developed the company's association with a wide variety of sports. After about 15 years with the brewer, he was recruited by Coca-Cola, where he worked for about 16 years and developed the same sport-oriented techniques for that firm.

"He really started all of that," John Fruit said. "And he had a good run."

News of his Chuck Fruit's death spread all over the country, and the story has been included in such publications as AdWeek, Advertising Age and Editor and Publisher.

Famed talk show host Charlie Rose featured a repeat interview with Fruit on Wednesday night's program. Fruit recounted how he guided Anheuser-Busch into the sports marketing arena during his early years with that company.

He helped launch the ESPN cable TV sports network, and he made Budweiser the network's exclusive beer sponsor for its first 15 years of operation.

The Coca-Cola company gave Fruit credit for affiliating the brand name with the Olympics and the World Cup. He was chief marketing officer for most of his career at Coke and most recently held a title of senior adviser.

"He was recognized around the world as a media and sports marketing visionary," said Coke CEO Neville Isdell.

READ MORE ON THIS STORY in the print edition of Friday's Telegraph.

To see more of The Telegraph or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thetelegraph.com/.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

[ Back To Contact Center Solutions Homepage's Homepage ]


Related Contact Center Solutions Articles
[ View all Contact Center Solutions Articles ]

Socialize with us

FREE Contact Center Solutions eNewsletter

Click here to receive your targeted Contact Center Solutions Community eNewsletter.[Subscribe Now]

Industry News

Featured Resources

Contact Center Solutions Glossary of Terms

Press Releases

About the Contact Center Solutions Community

    Welcome to the Contact Center Solutions Community The Contact Center Solutions Global Online Community, Sponsored by Interactive Intelligence, is designed to serve as the industry's premier resource for information and research on Contact Center Solutions technology and deployment strategies.