Following is my intended introduction of Active International Chairman Arthur Wagner as the Lifetime Achievement honoree at last week’s Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame event. Regretfully, I was unable to make the introduction and am grateful for the opportunity to publish my intended comments here instead.
Congratulations to Bill McGorry on his long and successful tenure heading the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and to all the 2024 inductees, especially my longtime friends and colleagues Janice Arouh, Bob Bakish, Marianne Gambelli, Scott Herman, Doug Holloway, Steve Lanzano, and Debra McConnell. It’s my distinct pleasure to introduce this year’s Broadcasting & Cable Lifetime Achievement honoree - a leader who has certainly earned his place among previous Lifetime Achievement winners - the Executive Chairman and Founder of Active International, Arthur Wagner. Art is joined tonight by his wife, partner, and very first Active employee (unpaid I might add), Ellen Wagner. Ellen, please stand and be recognized.
Art’s humble beginnings are a true American – and New York City - story. Born and raised in Brooklyn with two large families living in a one family house, Art was the youngest child by six years. His dad was a custom fur coat maker, bringing the furs home to show customers. Ironically, Art is allergic to fur so, needless to say, he did not join the family business. But he did learn from his parents the value of hard work, integrity, and personal relationships. That work ethic carried him through his early career, where he began laying the foundation for what would become Active International. Forty years ago, Art and Ellen launched their business with little more than a vision of a company that could not only help businesses better manage their financial challenges but also create opportunities for growth through corporate trade. It was revolutionary then, and, thanks to his leadership, media trading is an embedded part of our industry today.
I’d like to share a glimpse of Art that you won’t find in the boardroom. Some of you may know that Art is an excellent poker player. He’s a regular at the high-stakes tables at the MGM Grand and other casinos. His mastery of the game is about reading people, assessing risk, and knowing exactly when to make his move. It’s a talent that has served him equally well in business. Art’s mastery is having a seat at the table and playing his cards right -- whether it’s a poker table or in the world of global corporate finance.
In fact, I once heard a story where he cleaned out an entire table of some very high-rollers, all of them in senior executive positions, and as they walked away, Art said, “Well, that was fun, now does anyone want to talk about corporate trade?” That blend of competitive spirit and business savvy is quintessential Art.
Look, corporate trade isn’t a topic that comes up at most industry cocktail parties, and to be honest, many of us don’t fully understand how it works -- and we’re the insiders. Art has always enjoyed keeping the intricacies of his media trading business just out of reach of the mainstream, a bit of a secret sauce that only he fully appreciates.
It’s that quiet genius, that subtle ability to fly under the radar while reshaping industries, which sets Art apart. He doesn’t chase the spotlight; instead, he focuses on results. And just like in poker, while others are focused on the hand in front of them, Art is already several steps ahead, always thinking about the bigger picture.
What truly defines him though is not only his business acumen. Art is a “people first” leader. He’s built Active International with the understanding that the core of any great company is its people. He likes to say, “We don’t just trade assets, we trade ideas, relationships, and trust.” That trust has made Active International a multi-billion-dollar company doing business in fifteen countries.
Art’s passion for mentoring the next generation of leaders and his deep belief in the potential of every individual in his organization, several who are here to celebrate him this evening, is perhaps his most enduring legacy. Those who work with him will tell you that Art cares as much about the people he leads as he does about the deals he makes, and that is no small feat in a business that’s all about deals.
So tonight, we celebrate not only his professional achievements but also the warmth, generosity, and character that have made Art Wagner a true icon in our industry. Congratulations, Art, on this well-deserved Broadcasting and Cable lifetime achievement award. We are all better for having a seat at your table. Please view this brief video and welcome my friend and long-time colleague Art Wagner.