Bill Koenigsberg, President, CEO and Founder of Horizon Media, Elected to Board of Directors of The Partnership at Drugfree.org

NEW YORK, June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Partnership at Drugfree.org is pleased to announce the election of Bill Koenigsberg to its Board of Directors, along with his Chairmanship of the board's Media Exposure Committee.  

Koenigsberg was honored as "Media Executive of the Year" by Mediaweek magazine and was prominently featured as one of the industry's Top 50 Most Influential Executives in the annual Mediaweek 50 report for three consecutive years (2008-2010). He was awarded the Reisenbach Foundation's "Distinguished Citizen Award" for his contributions to the organization's goal of creating a safer New York, serves on the board of City Harvest and was honored at the nonprofit's 2011 gala event. Koenigsberg remains the only person to receive the prestigious Advertising Age Media Maven Award twice.

As President and Founder of Horizon Media, Koenigsberg brings more than 30 years experience in media negotiation and account management to The Partnership at Drugfree.org's mission of helping parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol abuse by their children.

"I was immediately impressed with the depth of Bill's strategic thinking and his commitment to making both a measurable and significant impact through his involvement," said Partnership Chairman, Patricia Russo. "Bill appreciates the opportunities before us and brings a keen understanding of not only innovation and effectiveness in media, but what is required of successful nonprofit board members. The teams he has assembled at Horizon Media to help guide our organization to greater levels of accomplishment are impressive in their own right and, importantly, each has volunteered for the role."

Founding Horizon Media in 1989, Koenigsberg grew the company to be the largest independent media agency in the world. Today, the New York-based agency, with billings of $3 billion, represents more than 90 clients, including blue-chip companies such as GEICO, NBC Universal Broadcast Group, Google, Kraft Foods, The A&E Networks, Capital One Bank and many other recognized brands.

In addition to joining the board of the nonprofit, Koenigsberg will also serve as chair of the Media Exposure Committee. In that critical role, he will help recruit high level committee members and guide the development of the nonprofit's media objectives and communications strategies. He will also assist in the outreach to both traditional and new media for pro bono support for the organization's public service announcements.

"I believe that all of us have an obligation to give back," said Bill Koenigsberg, CEO of Horizon Media. "Reaching out to the media community for such a worthy cause is a natural opportunity to help so many of those in need."

Most recently, Koenigsberg was named Chairman of the Media Policy Board and Director-at-Large of the 4A's Board of Directors. He also plays an active role on the boards of several industry committees, including the International Radio and Television Society Board and serves as Chairman of the Board for Columbus Media International, Horizon Media's sister company that provides international coverage across 60 territories worldwide. Prior to the establishment of Horizon Media, Koenigsberg served as Executive Vice President of Media General Inc.'s media services division.  

Koenigsberg graduated from The University of Miami with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.  A native New Yorker, he currently resides in Manhattan with his wife and has three children.  

About The Partnership at Drugfree.org

The Partnership at Drugfree.org is a nonprofit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children.  Bringing together renowned scientists, parent experts and communications professionals, this public health nonprofit translates current research on teen behavior, parenting, addiction and treatment into easy to understand resources at drugfree.org.  The organization also reaches families through its community education programs which focus on local drug and alcohol issues of concern for parents, youth and the Hispanic community. The Partnership at Drugfree.org depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and the public sector and is thankful to SAG/AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.

SOURCE The Partnership at Drugfree.org