Walter Lürzer inducted into German Advertising Hall of Fame

On March 31, 2009, Walter Lürzer was inducted into the GERMAN ADVERTISING INDUSTRY’S HALL OF FAME. Awarded since 2001, this title is presented by German business weekly “Wirtschaftswoche“ to personalities of special merit who have rendered outstanding services to the advertising industry. The citation of Roland Tichy, Wirtschaftswoche editor-in-chief and chairman of the jury, read as follows: “Walter Lürzer has, in a quite remarkable career spanning several decades, successfully managed to marry creativity and a spirit of entrepreneurship – and continues to do so.” Walter Lürzer is the first Austrian to have been honoured in this way. After graduating from the Hochschule für Welthandel (“World Trade University) in Vienna, Walter Lürzer began his career in 1965 as a copywriter for McCann-Erickson. In 1972, Salzburg-born Lürzer cofounded agency TBWA Frankfurt. Three years later, he joined together with Michael Conrad to set up the agency Lürzer, Conrad, which in 1980 merged with Leo Burnett. A further milestone in his career came at the end of the 1980s with the establishment of advertising agency Lowe, Lürzer in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. Since 1984, Walter has been publishing a review catering to the special needs of the advertising industry. “Lürzer’s Archive,” which boasts a total circulation of 38,000, appears in a German edition serving the German, Austrian and Swiss markets, and has separate English editions for the North American, European and international markets. Additionally, a Chinese edition is also published.

As professor at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Walter Lürzer has been teaching the school’s class in graphic art and advertising since 1989. Today, this is among the most oversubscribed courses on the entire curriculum. On the evening of March 31, 2009, Walter Lürzer was ceremoniously inducted into the German advertising industry’s Hall of Fame. Since 2001, German business weekly Wirtschaftswoche has been awarding this title to exceptional personalities who have, over the course of their career, rendered outstanding services to the advertising industry. Lürzer was born in Salzburg in 1942. He began his career, after graduating from the Hochschule für Welthandel (“World Trade University) in Vienna, as a copywriter for McCann-Erickson. In 1972, he cofounded advertising agency TBWA Frankfurt. Three years later, he joined together with Michael Conrad to set up the agency Lürzer, Conrad, which in 1980 merged with Leo Burnett. He has been publishing the international advertising review “Lürzer's Archive’” since 1984. As a professor at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, he has also been teaching students since 1988. All press inquiries, please contact Ms. Sandra Lehnst at sl@luerzersarchive.com