Chief Marketing Officer

RICHARD DARK 503-***-**** *****@**.***

Professional Summary

Commercially-astute strategic leader and creative problem-solver offering extensive experi-

ence leading high-profile industry leaders in the health payer and consumer packaged goods

industries. Expert in building collaborative relationships (internal and external), gaining buy-in

for new ideas, articulating competitive value, exploiting new business opportunities, and dri-

ving strategic programs through complex negotiations. Equal success in the launch of market-

ing initiatives for new product/service introductions and product line revitalization. Recognized

as a fair, empowering, and culturally-sensitive team builder who molds diverse groups from

international locales into high-achieving teams by encouraging participation and input; em-

body a lead-by-example style to attain important business goals.

Areas of Expertise

• Customer Engagement & Loyalty Services

• Program Strategy / Design Optimization / Data Strategy / Execution & Management

• Customer-Centric Management Services

• Customer Segmentation / Customer Strategy / Organizational Implementation / Change

Management

• Added Value

• Process Creation / Budget Management / Market Plan Creation / Brand Awareness Maxi-

mization / New Product Launch & Positioning / Partnership & Alliance Formation

Professional Experience

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, FJA-US, INC. 2011-PRESENT

• Run an overall P&L of $125 million and grown EBITDA by 23% annually.

• Direct and coordinate marketing activities and policies to promote products and services.

• Review the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures and

research and development appropriations.

• Initiate market research studies and analyze findings.

• Apply sales forecasting techniques and strategic planning to verify sales and profitability of

products, lines and services.

• Analyze business developments and monitor market trends.

• Work with the communications team to drive internal promotion of company programs, ini-

tiatives, guiding principles and mission.

• Coordinate and participate in promotional activities and trade shows.

• Collaborate with developers, advertisers and production managers to market products and

services.

• Direct the hiring, training and performance evaluations for marketing and sales staff and su-

pervise their daily activities.

• Coordinate art and graphics creation for effective merchandising.

• Identify value propositions and key messages for all of the company’s marketing campaigns.

• Preserve brand integrity by monitoring the consistency and quality of marketing content.

• Create high-quality marketing strategy documentation, including product marketing briefs,

FAQs and objection handling documents.

RICHARD DARK 503-***-**** *****@**.***

• Communicate marketing teams' plans and accomplishments to verify alignment with senior

management objectives.

• Travel nationally and internationally to meet with customers and deliver clear company mes-

sages.

• Develop and implement campaigns for email, online advertising, search engines and direct

mail.

• Define and track campaign effectiveness and adjusted strategies accordingly.

VICE PRESIDENT CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT, OPTUM 2009-2011

• Worked directly with client leadership to develop best in class health payer member reten-

tion strategies.

• Initiated market research studies for the Medicare market and analyzed findings.

• Analyzed business developments and monitored market trends.

• Worked with the internal operations team to drive internal promotion of company programs,

initiatives, guiding principles and mission.

• Coordinated and participated in promotional activities and trade shows for Optum as a se-

nior representative.

• Analyzed horizon trending data and investigated new growth opportunities.

• Traveled nationally and internationally to meet with customers.

• Directed product development using in-depth knowledge of vendor landscape and industry

insight for optimal product growth and distribution.

DIRECTOR OF BRAND, REGENCE BCBS 2005-2009

• Built strategic alliances with the Blues Association that resulted in free-flowing product and

program development.

• Earned the company exceptional ratings and testimonials from clients on myregence.com.

• Directed re-branding initiative, which boosted brand equity status by more than 40%.

• Defined strategy and business plan for new products.

• Member of Executive Management Team.

• Surpassed revenue goals in four consecutive quarters.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MARKET SPECTRUM MEDIA GROUP 1998-2005

• Designed and developed retail promotions for clients, Walmart, Target and Kraft Foods.

• Led team of design professionals.

• Spoke at creative conferences around branding.

Education

Kingston Polytechnic - London, UK - MBA Graphic Arts - 1988

Eastbourne College - Eastbourne, UK - BA Marketing - 1984

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