Patron of the Arts Award

Edgar Bronfman, Jr.

Edgar Bronfman,Jr., was named president and chief operating officer of The Seagram Company Ltd., and the corporation's U.S. subsidiary, Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., on July 1, 1989.

With affiliates in 28 countries worldwide, The Seagram Company Ltd. is a leading producer and marketer of distilled spirits, wines, coolers, juices and soft drinks.

A member of the board of directors of the firm since 1988, Bronfman formerly served as executive vice president, U.S. operations, for both companies. In this role, he directed all spirits and wine cooler activities in the United States, supervised all marketing efforts for Tropicana Products, Inc., and with the president of Seagram International, directed the integration of Martell S. A. into Seagram.

Bronfman was president of the House of Seagram, the sales, marketing and manufacturing unit of Joseph E. Seagram & Sons' distilled spirits operations from September 1984 to August 1988.

Bronfman joined the Seagram organization in 1982 and was based for two years in London where he served as managing director of Seagram Europe. In this capacity, he directed subsidiaries and affiliates throughout Europe and the British Isles. Earlier, he was assistant to the office of the president of The Seagram Company Ltd. and Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc.

Prior to joining Seagram, Bronfman was a producer of plays and motion pictures, including "The Border," with Jack Nicholson. He is also a songwriter and has written songs for such artists as Dionne Warwick and Ashford & Simpson, among others.

He is a member of the boards of the Collegiate School, The United Negro College Fund and the Teamwork Foundation. In 1987, he served as a chairperson of Music For Life, a benefit for the care of people with AIDS.