I'm a strategic marketer who started as an ad agency account guy and became a strategist who's run multiple award-winning strategy departments. I'm a one time agency co-founder and owner, and recently the Head of Strategy at Forsman & Bodenfors (in Canada), one of the world's most creative agencies.
My strategy background is foundational to understanding and implementing how brands live, thrive, and tell their stories in the post-information age. I have expertise in business strategy, brand positioning, consumer insight, communication platforms, go-to-market, digital, social.
My experience as an entrepreneur and operator (and member of multiple multi-national ELTs) gives me deep-seated understanding of organizational culture, planning, decision-making, leadership and managing P&L.
Born and raised in Vancouver, educated and started my career in Dallas, now based in Toronto. Having lived and worked on both sides of the border and contributed to brands around the world, I bring insider knowledge and outsider perspective to every project.
The brands I’ve worked on include Arm & Hammer (C&D), Armor All (Spectrum), Audi, Best Buy, BiC, Bento Sushi, Boston Pizza, Cogeco, CREA (Realtors), Crystal Head Vodka, Diageo, El Jimador Tequila (Brown Forman), Gravol (C&D), Herradura Tequila (Brown Forman), HSBC, KPMG, Kraft Singles, LG Electronics, Mackenzie Financial, Mill Street Brewery (AB Inbev), Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Nestea (Coke), Nestle Purina, Nuclear Energy Institute, Nuveen, ob Tampons (J&J), Ontario Government, Ontario Lottery & Gaming, Ontario Power Generation, Ovarian Cancer, PartSource (Canadian Tire), PC Financial (Loblaws), Philadelphia Cream Cheese (Kraft), Polestar EVs, RBC, Rogers, Royal LePage, Rub A535 (C&D), Sagicor Insurance, Seneca College, STP Motor Oil (Spectrum), The Burgers Priest, Thins (Mondelez), Tourism Toronto, Trojan Brands (C&D), Volvo, Yellowtail Wine.
I talk to young people getting into the business all the time. They often ask for advice. I realized that I have a kind of philosophy for work. Here it is (in list form):
1. Work hard. Be nice.
2. Advertising is a team sport.
3. When you work on a brand, for the time that you do, it’s yours. It’ll only be as great as your ambition for it.
4. Spend your client’s money like it’s yours.
5. Buy in. To your clients, and your agency.
6. The better the agency does, the better you’ll do. Help out.
7. It’s a lot more fun when you’re a part of the culture.
8. Don’t be afraid to give your opinion.
9. Listen a lot, and notice things. The answer is usually just sitting there.