CV / Resume

ABOUT ME

I’m a planner and strategist with an eye for solutions that connect business objectives with real human behaviour. I believe in clear language, flexible thinking, and starting from first principles. In presentation, I think good strategy should sound like well-informed common sense.

EXPERIENCE

Senior Strategist
Critical Mass – London | September 2017 – Present

I currently work with the Mitsubishi and Infiniti brands on global digital strategy for platforms and innovation.
I am a partner in ONE HUNDRED, Omnicom's agency coalition for positive global change.

Senior Strategist
Spark44 – London | January 2016 – August 2017

I was responsible for brand, digital, and social strategy for the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in the UK market.
Following consolidation of multiple agency teams into one Spark44 team, I developed the strategic planning frameworks to integrate above-the-line and below-the-line activity into a single coordinated planning process. This required organising communications planning, social/digital content planning, and customer relationship management around a single view of the customer journey. During this period of change, I was responsible for collaborating with various client teams and agency partners to get buy-in to the new approach.
Briefed and sold in "World's Largest Speedbump," which earned 4.5 million views in four weeks and was named The Drum's Creative Work of the Week for January 8, 2018.

Founder and Vice President of Marketing
Third Coast Analytics, Inc. | May 2010 - December 2015

As VP of Marketing, I was responsible for strategy, branding, product design, and coordination of marketing activities. I founded Third Coast Analytics, Inc. (TCA) as a US-based S corporation with three partners.
Our team developed a secure reporting platform to provide education clients with predictive analytics services, converting institutional data into detailed intelligence about student prospects, financial aid requirements, and recruitment activity efficiency.
Clients included the Minerva Project, the University of Notre Dame, Bradley University, Franklin & Marshall College, Carleton College, Lycoming College and others.

Senior Account Planner
Edelman Digital – London | August 2014 – October 2015

I was responsible for digital strategy, social strategy, and creative briefing for clients that included
Teva Pharmaceutical, Xbox, Hewlett-Packard, PayPal, Purina, the World Gold Council, and others.
I was the strategic lead for Edelman’s successful pitch to develop a global digital strategy for Teva Pharmaceutical. Following the pitch, I helped Teva develop a digital mission and strategic framework for becoming a more broadly trusted and patient-centered brand. On the strength of our delivery, Teva widened our scope to include the brand planning process, signed off several significant new research projects, and made Edelman responsible for its global corporate social responsibility planning.
I was also the strategic lead for the summer 2014 social strategic repositioning for Xbox UK.
I provided thought leadership on behalf of the department, as Edelman’s presenter at the DMX Dublin 2015 digital marketing conference.

Account Planner (Freelance)
Edelman Digital – London | February 2014 - July 2014

I was responsible for digital strategy and creative briefs for clients that included Xbox, Johnnie Walker, the World Gold Council, and Hewlett-Packard. I also contributed analysis or advised projects for a variety of other brands, including Novartis, Toni & Guy, Tresemmé, Unilever, Purina, and others.
I contributed research and creative briefing to a successful pitch to launch the 100 Lives project, a global campaign that was initiated 100 years after the Armenian genocide.

Associate Account Planner
Critical Mass – London | July 2013 - December 2013

I was responsible for discovering actionable insights from qualitative and quantitative research, as well as brief writing, working with the creative team, and collaboration with other disciplines.
I worked on projects for Hewlett-Packard, Citigroup, South Africa Tourism, and Dunlop Tyres. I was also on the pitch team for a large, London-based arts organization.
As a part of the HP EMEA team, I was responsible for briefing in and brainstorming new work that exceeded client expectations and lead to additional work sold in.
I also researched and produced the weekly digital trends e-mail newsletter for clients.

Director of Communications
VanderCook College of Music | 2005-2012

I worked with staff departments across the institution to create coordinated communications plans. Some of our many achievements included tripling undergraduate recruiting, quadrupling annual campaign giving, and quintupling alumni association participation.
I was responsible for strategy and execution of advertising, print, social media, and digital communications. Tasks included project management, writing, editing, publication design, social media strategy, and vendor relations.
I interviewed article subjects and coached content contributors in interviewing technique.
I implemented the institution’s first brand standards and social media strategy, built an e-mail list of 8,000 active contacts, launched the first annual report, and relaunched the website with a content management system.

AWARDS & PRESS

Dublin DMX 2015 Digital Marketing Conference | March 2015
Range Rover tackles the ‘world’s largest’ speedbump with Spark44.

Dublin DMX 2015 Digital Marketing Conference | March 2015
Growing Brands in Social: Why Zero Organic Reach is a Good Thing.

OTHER SKILLS & TRAINING

Professional Development:
Google Squared graduate (Oct. 2015 cohort),
Account Planning Group Essential Planning Skills (Nov. 2015)

Business founder: I have an unfair advantage working with clients, because I’ve been one.

Journalism Background: interviewing techniques, writing, editing and familiarity with the AP stylebook

EDUCATION

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee | 1999-2004
Bachelor of Letters & Sciences in Journalism and Mass Communications. Minor: Business.

Brian Williamson
US#: +1 312 212 3820
UK#: +44 0 7745 971 188
professional bio