Israeli Advertising Executive Oren Frank Dies at 61 After Brain Cancer Battle

Oren Frank, a leading figure in Israeli advertising and former co-CEO of McCann Erickson Israel, passed away at age 61 after a prolonged fight with brain cancer. Frank spent his final years in the United States, where he and his wife Roni founded Talkspace, an online mental health platform that later became a publicly traded company on NASDAQ.

Roni Frank announced his death, describing his battle with cancer as courageous and dignified, reflecting how he lived his life without drama or victimhood. The couple had been partners for 30 years and co-founded Talkspace together. Frank was widely recognized for his influential role in the growth of McCann Israel, having joined the company in the 1990s and later serving in senior creative roles in London before returning to Israel as co-CEO in 2002.

Colleagues and industry leaders mourned Frank’s passing, highlighting his unique presence, deep voice, sharp intellect, and charismatic leadership. Shira Margalit, his co-CEO, praised his originality and cultural impact on Israeli advertising. Amit Mashiach, former McCann CEO, credited Frank with shaping the agency’s bold creative culture and mentoring a generation of advertising professionals.

In 2008, Frank and his family relocated to New York, where he transitioned from advertising to entrepreneurship. Talkspace was established in 2012 to improve access to mental health services and grew into a significant player in the digital health sector. Despite his move abroad, Frank’s legacy remains strongly associated with a pivotal era in Israeli advertising history.