Christian M. Hess

linkedin.com/in/cmichaelhess 630-***-**** adkzxh@r.postjobfree.com

Summary

• Accomplished executive-level marketer, brand and agency veteran with significant experience in QSR, CPG, Beverage, FinTech and Retail

• Proven success growing brands and business for iconic consumer brands and startups alike

• Passionate about helping brands define their purpose and deliver experiences that are meaningful to their audience

• Strategic and collaborative with a reputation for building strong teams, smart partnerships and trusted senior-level client relationships

Experience

CMH Marketing LLC Sept 2015-Current

Lombard, IL

Principal

Harnessing decades of marketing experience across disciplines and verticals (CPG, FinTech, Pharma, QSR, Beverage, Retail) to offer holistic thinking and strategies that build brands and business online and at the shelf. Passion for brands with purpose and for creating meaningful connections with consumers at every touchpoint.

Mitchell Communications March–October 2020

Chicago, IL

Vice President, Business Development and Account Leadership Responsible for establishing a Chicago presence, and driving organic and new client growth for the flagship PR agency of Dentsu.

• Quickly developed trusted relationships across Dentsu organization to raise Mitchell’s profile, significantly increasing our participation in fully-integrated, cross-agency pitches

• Collaborated with agency Practice Leads to increase awareness and drive business for Corporate PR, Local PR, and Consumer PR practices

Leo Burnett Group May 2018-Sept 2019

Chicago, IL

Executive Vice President, Business Leadership, Leo Burnett Provided leadership across brand creative and strategy, digital, PR, Media and Shopper teams responsible for the stabilization and growth of the iconic 150-year-old Campbell's Soup brand as well as other Meals and Beverage brands across US and Canada

• Generated first positive share gains in over 10 quarters for iconic condensed soup brand

• Led repositioning and launch of new brand identities, strategic platforms and campaigns for six of Campbell’s top brands, including repositioning V8 as the “original plant-based beverage”

• Oversaw interagency team in development of integrated experience plans for each brand

• Demonstrated resilience and leadership through significant change at Campbell’s Soup Company

• P&L responsibility: Exceeded agency Contribution Margin target by 300% in 2018. Executive Vice President, Group Account Director, Arc Worldwide

• Led interagency team that collectively delivered integrated consumer and professional marketing for Alcon's eye care and lens brands

• Led team charged with changing the trajectory of the declining Milk category highlighting its unique health-benefits communicated through a shopper-centric activation for Milk PEP Epsilon Sept 2015-May 2018

Chicago, IL

Vice President, Strategy and Growth

Worked with cross-functional teams and leveraged rich data assets to drive acquisition and growth for FinTech clients.

• Led customer segmentation and integrated marketing test that exceeded KPIs and business objectives for CIT Bank

• Developed omni-channel and performance marketing solutions that drove measurable growth for clients

o 101% YOY increase in site visits

o 63% YOY increase in HYSA acquisition

• Implemented intricate data-driven performance marketing effort to drive acquisition for CIT

• Led launch of new online consumer banking product—online deposit/HYSA—for Comenity Bank The Marketing Store Worldwide 2003-2015

Chicago, Illinois

As Executive Leadership Team member, led teams to drive new and organic growth through partnership with some of the world’s most iconic brands including McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Southern Comfort, RedBox, and Shell.

Vice President, Head of Business Development 2012 - 2015

• Led Agency Marketing, PR and New Business for Global Headquarters in Chicago

• Dramatically improved agency PR and reputation through implementation of inbound sales strategy, agency repositioning and refining our USP

• Agency recognized as a “Best Place to Work” in Chicago

• Doubled the number of RFPs in which we participated (YOY)

• Exceeded revenue goal by 150% in 2015

Vice President, Strategic Business Partner 2008 - 2012 Provided strategic oversight, client partnership and team leadership on major accounts including McDonald’s, Southern Comfort, Coca-Cola, Redbox, Minute Maid and Simply Orange Juice

• Pitched, won, onboarded and served as strategic lead over the Southern Comfort business

• Led team that developed existing “Good in, Good out” brand platform for Minute Maid juice boxes

• Grew regional business for both McDonald’s and their beverage marketing partners, Coke and Dr. Pepper

Account Director, McDonald’s US Adult Marketing 2003 – 2008

• Led cross-functional team responsible for increasing guest counts and sales for McDonald’s restaurants by implementing innovative and award-winning brand activations

• Digitally reimagined the world’s largest and most popular consumer promotion, Monopoly at McDonald’s

• Negotiated co-marketing and prize partnerships worth over a billion dollars in value over five- year period

Jim Beam Brands, Co. 1999-2003

Deerfield, IL

Senior Manager, Brand Activation, North American Whiskeys (2001-2003) Manager, Brand Activation, Cordials and Liqueurs (1999-2001) Significantly improved relevance of Jim Beam Bourbon among key Young Adult consumers by connecting authentically with them through music, sports and entertainment on-premise and off.

• Significantly improved unaided awareness, adoption rates, and share-of-mouth among Young Adults by implementing multi-dimensional experiential and shopper marketing campaigns

• Maximized budgets by leveraging media partnerships to efficiently deliver brand relevance and scale through unique, multi-channel brand experiences

• Led strategy and execution of on-premise activations and off-premise shopper programs

• Partnered with Sales teams and distributors to ensure successful implementation of marketing programs

Frankel (now Arc Worldwide) 1993 - 1999

Chicago, IL

Account Management (AAE-Sr. AE)

• Gained invaluable experience in promotional marketing in key verticals (Retail, Auto, QSR, CPG, Financial Services) at leading promotion agency in the US

• Demonstrated continuous growth resulting in three promotions in six years Education

Bachelor in Business Administration 1993

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

Volunteer Work

Glenbard East High School INCubator Program 2018 – 2020 Lombard, IL

Mentor and Coach of students enrolled in rigorous entrepreneurship course Willow Creek Community Church - DuPage 2013 – 2015 Wheaton, IL

Leadership Advisory Board

Elder Review Board

DuPage Pads 2008 – 2015

Lombard, IL

Homeless Shelter Volunteer

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