Senior-level marketing: branding • global • business development • st

THORSTEN H. RHODE

Venice, California *****

310-***-**** • ****.*****@*****.***

SENIOR-LEVEL MARKETING MANAGEMENT

Branding • Global • Business Development • Strategy

Exceptionally accomplished brand marketer and strategist, with over a decade of experience developing and implementing unique branding, campaign, and business growth initiatives for a multitude of renowned organizations. Collaborative leader, unified team builder and mentor, specializing in successfully delivering projects within tight timeline and budget parameters. Effectively managed marketing for blue-chips such as PROCTER & GAMBLE, KODAK, MATTEL, & WALT DISNEY, with extensive cross-cultural experience spanning Europe, Asia and The Americas.

Primary strengths include:

Strategic Marketing & Media Planning • Global Account Management • Business Development • Brand Management

Market Research & Analysis • Creative Development • Training & Mentoring • B2B / B2C • Sales Support

Cross-Functional Team Leader • Budget Management • PR • Mergers & Acquisitions

Campaign Management • On-line / E-Marketing • New Media • CRM

Market Segmentation • Market Positioning • Consulting

Broad-Based Multicultural Expertise • Bilingual

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

LASERPACIFIC MEDIA CORPORATION – A KODAK COMPANY, Hollywood, California • 2006-Present

Provider of innovative digital / high-tech post-production services for A-List feature films (e.g. The Kite Runner, Alvin & The Chipmunks, & The Black Dahlia) and television programs (e.g. Pushing Daisies, Cane, & Weeds).

Director, Marketing Communications

Lead marketing department and serve as member of executive team; manage product line strategy and all marketing mix elements of Kodak’s post-production subsidiary. Direct project management, sales, and technical staff to ensure timely communication of projects and communicate with marketing at London office (Cinesite). Participate in M&A task force, evaluating acquisition targets to transition Kodak’s Entertainment Imaging division into “digital age.” Manage various outside agencies (web, advertising, PR) and vendors (e.g. printers, web programmers) and liaise with industry associations to set up work shops and raise company’s profile. Develop and execute annual marketing plan including media buys, creative development, tracking budgets, etc.

• Generated leads for various projects by organizing monthly networking events (at a cost of $500-$1K each); closed 2 projects at ~$150K each to date.

• Audited and revamped positioning and strategy to align lines of business and product lines within LOBs, and established differentiated product lines in process.

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Los Angeles, California • 2004-2006

Largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the U.S. with a combined print and interactive monthly audience of 4.9M; comprised of 3K employees and $1B in revenue.

Senior Manager, Consumer Marketing

Managed all aspects of consumer marketing, including research/market segmentation, creative execution, and budget allocation. Oversaw internal ad agency and utilized internal and external resources to maximize exposure for key client projects. Teamed with database marketing to ensure tracking of direct mail drop involving ~$500K worth of premiums (coupons, gift cards, etc.). Led and mentored 5 direct reports. Coordinated remnant in-paper-space (1K pgs/yr, valued at ~$40M) between LA Times (charity, events, etc.) and Tribune (KTLA, Careerbuilder, cars.com, etc.) entities.

• Secured $10M annual theater trailer program with a $25K investment via an innovative cooperation with the “Oscars” (Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts, & Sciences)—a 40,000% ROI.

• Developed and implemented an intranet-based tool for tracking performance of $40M in annual house ad space. Improved utilization of this space by up to 100%.

• Collaborated with editorial / legal teams to promote upcoming content via a $2M radio campaign, a company first.

• Initiated $100K brand image study to reassess segmentation model in the face of a changing media landscape.

• Selected to revamp Advertiser Marketing, an $800M source of business for LA Times.

FREELANCE MARKETING CONSULTANT, Los Angeles, California • 2001-2004

Secured numerous long-term freelance assignments for various organizations, including:

HONG KONG TOURISM BOARD (Marketing Consultant)

Managed (inter)national marketing and interactive projects; coordinated with head office in Hong Kong. Managed $2M budget for “one-voice” efforts (e.g. national ads, co-promotions, direct and e-marketing). Led all marketing managers across the Americas (including Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, Central and South America).

• Developed a marketing plan template for all regions in the Americas.

UNIWORLD GLOBAL RIVER CRUISES (Marketing Consultant)

Led all facets of marketing including collateral, creative, media buy, response tracking via “1-800” numbers, and website-related development with $5M marketing budget. Oversaw 3-person creative team.

• Introduced a template for a creative brief; also re-tooled newspaper ad creative to boost responses.

• Structured and led implementation of new website / web strategy; tied website into call-center booking system.

FCB ADVERTISING AGENCY, Los Angeles, California • 2000-2001

Advertising agency with blue-chip clients including Mattel and Fisher Price, with 250 employees and $100M+ in revenue.

International Account Director

Managed global MATTEL Boys Toys accounts (e.g. Hot Wheels, Harry Potter) including largest account with $17M in media billings. Guided client meetings with creative, media and production departments. Conducted focus groups to evaluate prototype toys and TV commercials. Team comprised of freelance Account Director and 2 junior account people.

• Executed review and update of all creative positioning for Hot Wheels brand in 3 months; also coordinated revised creative direction with FCB Chicago office and shot 4 commercials in 2 weeks, an extremely fast turnaround.

BBDO BOEBEL / ADAM ADVERTISING AGENCY, Frankfurt, Germany • 1997-2000

Multi-billion dollar global advertising agency servicing blue-chip clientele (Frankfurt office comprised of $60M in revenues).

Global Account Director

Handled key global accounts such as Walt Disney, DELL, Hong Kong Tourism Board, IBERIA Airlines, and Charles Schwab, and national accounts such as ATARI and SGZ-Bank. Developed new business pitches and strategy, budget forecasts, and monitored profitability. Team comprised of 1 account manager and several interns.

• Boosted revenue from SGZ-Bank 9 times from $40K to $365K via successful ad campaign.

• Produced an additional 50% in revenue from Hong Kong Tourism Board account via contract for collateral material.

• Promoted twice in 1 year (from Account Manager to Senior Account Manager to Account Director).

EARLY CAREER NOTES (full details on request)

J. WALTER THOMPSON ADVERTISING AGENCY, Frankfurt, Germany • 1996-1997 (Clients: KODAK, Gerolsteiner)

Account Manager: Wrote/tested soft drink re-launch concept; reversed market share decline 5%+ vs ya in 3 months.

DMB&B ADVERTISING AGENCY, Frankfurt, Germany • 1995-1996 (Client: Procter & Gamble)

Junior Account Executive: Oversaw pan-European TV campaign (briefing to airing); boosted market share by 20% for Clearasil Cleanser. Promoted from Trainee to Jr. Account Executive in 5 months and awarded with own $1.5M account.

GERMAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, New York, NY • 1992-1993

Marketing Services (Intern): Consulted small and medium-sized companies re: imports and exports to and from the US.

EDUCATION

Diploma (equivalent to MBA in U.S.) Marketing, Production Planning & Business English

Graduate School of Business, University of Passau, Germany

International Marketing & Finance (MBA Curriculum)

Graduate School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Digital Cinema Society • Hollywood Post Alliance

West Coast Marketing Advisory Board for George Eastman House, Rochester, New York

LANGUAGES

German (native), Spanish / French (basic)

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