Stephanie Kugelman (June 15, 1947 – February 23, 2026) was an American advertising executive, branding expert and executive mentor. She was a past Vice Chairman and Chief Strategic officer of Young & Rubicam Inc.,^[1] which was a publicly traded S&P company^[2] until its acquisition by British holding company WPP plc in 2000 for $4.7 billion.^[3] Her career at Y&R started as a junior researcher and she remained a Vice Chairman Emeritus of the company.^[4] As a brand strategist,^[5] since 2011 she has most recently served on the public boards of Whole Foods Market,^[6][7][8] and Young & Rubicam Inc., and sat on the board of Home Shopping Network (HSN).^[9][10][11] She was also Vice Chairman of Solera Capital, a New York private equity firm.^{[12][13][failed verification][14]}

Kugelman was born in Nyack, New York but her family moved to Weston, Connecticut, a few years later. She attended Staples High School (Connecticut). She graduated from the Elmira College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology and completed executive study business programs at Harvard School of Business and Kellogg School of Management.^[15]

Kugelman was elected to the board of Y & R Inc in 1992, and several years later was named Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Y&R New York and then in 1999 became Chairman and Managing Director of Y & R New York^[16] and then Chairman and CEO of that office.^[17] Y & R was named agency of Agency-of-the-Year in 1995, 1996, and 1998. Y & R New York grew its office to over 1,200 employees and over $1 billion in media billings.^[18] In 2002 Stephanie was named Vice Chairman, Chief Strategic Officer of Y & R Worldwide^[19][20] and her client responsibilities included Kraft Foods, Showtime (TV network), United Airlines, Accenture, Sears^[21][22] across more than 100 Y & R offices. In 2007, she stepped down to start her own brand consultancy, called A Second Opinion, LLC (A.S.O.).^[23][4]

Kugelman was named Advertising Woman of the Year in 2000^[24] and was also inducted into the YMCA Academy of Women Achievers.^[25] She has continued as a member of Advertising Women of New York and as a judge for the EFFIE Awards for advertising effectiveness.^[26]

Kugelman served as a consultant to Women for Women International and on the boards of Gilda's Club, Safe Horizon and Scholarship Committee of Boca Grande Woman's Club.^[27]

Kugelman had a daughter from her first marriage and she remarried after her husband, Arthur E. Kugelman, died. She later resided with her husband Edward Vick in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.^[28]

Kugelman died on February 23, 2026, at the age of 78.^[29]

• Official website