Burt Manning currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of J. Walter Thompson Worldwide. As chairman and chief executive officer of J. Walter Thompson Worldwide from 1987 to 1997, Manning led the agency through one of its most prosperous and prolific times. He has the distinction of being the agency's only CEO to come from the creative ranks. Upon his induction into its Hall of Fame in 1999, the American Advertising Federation called Manning “an exceptional creative strategist and problem solver who changed the way advertising is done.