A graduate of Smith College, Ms. Lazarus also holds an MBA from Columbia University. She joined Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide in 1971, becoming president of its U.S. direct marketing business in 1989. She then became president of Ogilvy & Mather New York and president of Ogilvy & Mather North America before becoming president and chief operating officer of the worldwide agency in 1995, chief executive officer in 1996 and chairman in 1997. Ms. Lazarus also serves as a director of Merck & Co., New York Presbyterian Hospital, the American Museum of Natural History and the World Wildlife Fund, and is a member of the board of overseers of Columbia Business School.