Jean Marie Dru, chairman, TBWA worldwide has received the Legion d’Honneur from the French government as a recognition of his contribution towards the advertising industry not only in France but throughout the world.
The Legion d’Honneur is an invitation into Knighthood, referred to as a “Chevalier”(knight) by the French. The Legion d’Honneur was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to reward men both for outstanding military accomplishments and for other distinguished service to the state. Former awardees of the honour include American film director Martin Scorsese, author Jules Verne, Salvador Dali, Charles Lindbergh, famous French actors like Yves Montand and Alain Delon, John D. Rockefeller, American novelist and poet Norman Mailer, French composer Olivier Messiaen, famous sportsmen like Jean-Claude Killy and Yannick Noah, former CEO of IBM Jacques Maisonrouge and famous French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.