Director of Marketing Strategy

KYLE WHITTAKER

Kennebunk, ME ***** 781-***-**** *************@*****.***

LinkedIn - Kyle Whittaker

Digital Marketing Brand Strategy Consumer Insights Brand Planning Marketing Strategist with expertise in driving advertising, branding + rebranding, digital platforms, campaign development and commercial activities using insight-driven strategies that create awareness, connect with customers and increase sales. Excel at creative problem solving, and rapidly moving from idea to execution and revenue generation. Leverage data and digital platforms to optimize client campaign performance. History of powering omni-channel programs, engaging with customers, activating brands and bringing products and services to life. Recognized as a respected brand innovator and a savvy consumer marketer. Passion for building cultures that lead to ongoing excellence and business growth by pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovative solutions. CORE COMPETENCIES:

Executive Leadership & People Management Customer Insights Marketing Transformation Digital Enablement Brand Strategy Marketing Roadmaps Budget Management Campaign Development Measurement & Analytics Audience Journey Mapping CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Super-charged the agency output, during unprecedented times, keeping velocity and engagement high; built a culture of excellence at all levels, influencing through positive leadership behaviors, and converting people and culture strategies into reality

Reimagined and re-launched several client brands to better articulate differentiation and customer benefits to the marketplace, including brand strategy, visual and verbal identity, employee brand, paid media and campaign and brand transition execution

Developed a Twitch streaming campaign for Simple Mobile that delivered over 839MM impressions and 4.2MM hours of branded content watched during the pandemic

Lead multi-discipline teams across all of Hasbro’s global and US digital programs, generated over 1B digital impressions for cumulative Hasbro toy brands

Developed communication plans and marketing strategies for clients: Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Seagram’s Escapes, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, Walmart, Premier Protein, Power Bar, Golden Corral, Welch’s, T. Rowe Price, CertainTeed, Lowes, Garnier, Hasbro, Goodyear, Condé Nast, 1800 Tequila, Sam’s Club, iShares by BlackRock, Hulu, ABC, Complex Media, Rogaine PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ready Set Rocket Jan 2023 – Present

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY

Agency strategy leader understanding client and business problems and developing strategic frameworks and messaging approaches to solve them through creative, content, and other bespoke tactics.

Brand and strategy development from brand positioning, mission, vision, values, and benefits through to creating omnichannel communication plans, and setting the creative strategy to inform all tactics

Audience definition and journey mapping to provide insight into audience interests and behaviors, as well as identifying barriers and drivers along the path to purchase

Integrated content and social media strategy development across paid and owned channels for maximum KPI impact

Identifying AI and technology integrations that can improve efficiency and quality of creative outputs

Clients: BlackRock, iShares, Rogaine, OGX Beauty, Schwarzman Scholars Freelance / Contract Apr 2022 – Dec 2022

STRATEGIST @ CREATIVE RIFF

Contracting to establish strategy discipline and workflows within a historically idea and execution based experiential agency as well as driving strategic frameworks and insight development to inform creative work with existing and new business clients.

Clients: Hulu, FX, NBC, Disney+, IMG

Pierce (Omnicom Experiential Group) Mar 2019 – Feb 2022 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & INNOVATION

Strategic marketer and innovator for a company that creates experiential strategies that drives brand experiences and provides advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, and PR services.

Actively develop impactful channel-agnostic brand experiences from strategy development through concepting, production and execution that deliver on client goals

Function as a blend of creative/production/strategy director to bring unique ideas to life ranging from creative executions to branded engagements; generated ideas to secure in excess of $10MM in the past 24 months

Drive strategic thinking and disruptive innovation activities through the development of marketing roadmaps that align client assets with financial goals; present current state assessments, future state vision, resource needs, goals/metrics and go-to-market plans

Define a differentiated and compelling brand identity for clients in order to build a foundational and scalable framework to connect with customers, optimize digital properties and create a high-quality experience throughout their marketing ecosystem

Clients: Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Food Lion, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, Walmart, Premier Protein, Power Bar The VIA Agency Jul 2016 - Nov 2018

CLIENT STRATEGY DIRECTOR

Directed client engagements that delivered breakthrough results on tangible metrics including shortened marketing cycle time, product innovation and competitive intelligence for an award-winning full-service advertising and marketing agency.

Oversaw strategic planning activities using market research, customer insights, communication, product and service marketing, branding, and advertising in order to launch ground breaking campaigns to connect with customers and accelerate revenue

Utilized data and insights to inform and evolve the client’s creative identity and influence the customer journey and experience, resulting in increased levels of engagement and conversion

Managed and led a team of ten direct reports, providing career development training; created a motivational atmosphere focused on developing novel approaches to unlock value creation through brand building, consumer confidence and campaign execution

Served as the strategic lead on Golden Corral client and active advisor on their franchise advisory council

Helped secure $2.5MM new client in 2017 and continued to grow total revenues through incremental work

Clients: Golden Corral, Welch’s, T. Rowe Price, Saint-Gobain, CertainTeed, Lowes Previous Roles

AMP Agency - Account Supervisor (2015 - 2016)

Saltwater Collective – Account Supervisor (2014 – 2015) The VIA Agency - Account Executive (2010 – 2014)

HEILBrice Retail Advertising - Account Coordinator (2010) EDUCATION

University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration, Marketing Focus with Certificate in Advertising Google Analytics IQ Certified

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