bob kersten

Led business development for the San Francisco office and Western region. Responsible for outbound efforts, RFP responses, new business pitches, collaboration with North America and global teams and practices, and securing new client relationships.

Led major brand programs for key clients that drove results - fostering growth, creating meaningful customer experiences, enabling competitive advantage, and capitalizing on opportunities such as market evolution, spinoffs, acquisitions, product development, and employee engagement. Supervised teams that spanned research, brand strategy, creative, engagement, and environments.

Supervised brand strategy, identity and retail environment programs for a range of clients including Chevron, Wells Fargo, Ion Systems, Clark Oil, Barra.

Formerly Brand Union. Responsible for overseeing client relationships and brand strategy development. Engagements included GlaxoSmithKline, Fuji, Baxter, Calpine, Domino’s Pizza, and Choice Hotels.

For Microsoft’s MSN HomeAdvisor, developed brand strategy and implementation plan that spanned mortgage, real estate and consumer divisions, providing a seamless online home-buying experience.

Developed brand strategies that drove customer relevance, market differentiation, organizational change, and growth. Served as acting head of Seoul office from 2005 – 2009, leading programs with LG, Kumho Asiana, Samsung, and Hyundai. Developed quantitative tool that measures the impact of communication touch points in order to inform marcom strategies.

Responsible for the success of all client relationships. Managed a practice of directors, managers, and associates charged with account operations, profitability, growth, and client relations. Partnered with North America new business team in sales efforts. - Served as the executive partner for key clients and internal teams. - For Andeavor (formerly Tesoro, now part of Marathon Oil): With a large cross-discipline team, led the total renaming and rebranding of this $35B petroleum company during a shift in business vision. Included research, strategy, naming, visual identity, employee engagement, acquisition integration, and complete launch across media – website, videos, advertising, collateral, signage, refineries, offices, company communications.

Work with companies and agencies to help them clarify, build, and activate brands. Practice includes brand positioning and purpose, portfolio strategy, naming and messaging, employee engagement, experience design, and integrated communications. -For metajive - an independent interactive studio that creates exceptional digital experiences merging creativity, commerce, and technology - serve as contract Director of Strategy & Partnerships.