Mr. Crawford entered the advertising business in 1956, and worked for Benton & Bowles and Ted Bates advertising agencies before joining BBDO in 1963. He was named to head BBDO's international operations in 1969 and, in 1974, he was given the additional responsibilities of managing the agency's financial and internal operations. Then in April 1985 he was elected BBDO's Chairman of the Board.

A year later Mr. Crawford left the advertising business to become General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera. Three and a half years later, he returned to the business world as President and CEO of Omnicom while continuing to serve at the Met as President and Chief Executive Officer. In 1999 he was named the Met's Honorary Chairman of the Board.

In June of 2002, Mr. Crawford became Chairman of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.; he also serves on the Boards of Venetian Heritage and The Animal Medical Center. He lives in New York with his wife, Christine, an interior designer.