Chris Ertel

Chris Ertel Email and Phone Number

Director of Creative Strategy ♦ Ideate, Reignite and Grow CPG Brands ♦ Innovation, Marketing, Design, Branding, and Advertising ♦ Strategic Brand Consulting @ BrandOpus
Chicago, IL, US
Chris Ertel's Location
Greater Chicago Area, United States, United States
Chris Ertel's Contact Details

Chris Ertel personal email

About Chris Ertel

As a senior branding director, I lead teams and define strategy while maintaining a core belief that curiosity is the spark behind every great idea. My limitless curiosity fuels my imagination and inspires teams to solve problems, explore what-ifs, and search for answers to questions that had previously been thought unanswerable. My career has been rooted in branding leadership, and I have held roles as a co-founder, managing director, brand strategy director, and innovation strategist at brand adaptation and design agencies, as well as strategic consulting firms. Leveraging a passion for connecting the dots for CPG brands in combination with my branding leadership expertise, I align small details to a company’s overarching strategic vision – ultimately bringing successful products and marketing campaigns to life.Expertise in:✔DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS AND BRANDS that resonate with consumers✔DELIVERING INNOVATIVE EXPERIENCES.✔ACCELERATING GROWTH AND MARKET SHARE by developing authentic relationships✔CONDUCTING CONSUMER RESEARCH & TESTING.✔CREATING GO-TO-MARKET STRATEGIES for new product development initiativesCORE STRENGTHS: Agency Leadership | Culture Building | Client Relationships | Account Management | Talent Development | Structure & Process Design | Project Management | P&L | Strategic Planning | Brand Strategy | Brand Marketing | Brand Management | Business Development | Brand Positioning | Organizational Purpose | Marketing Strategy | Design Thinking | Creative Strategy | Customer Insights | Proposal | Pitch | Launch | Marketing Plan | Qualitative and Quantitative Research | Workshop Leadership | StorytellingI welcome opportunities to “connect!” #OpentoOpportunities

Chris Ertel's Current Company Details
BrandOpus

Brandopus

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Director of Creative Strategy ♦ Ideate, Reignite and Grow CPG Brands ♦ Innovation, Marketing, Design, Branding, and Advertising ♦ Strategic Brand Consulting
Chicago, IL, US
Website:
brandopus.com
Employees:
76
Chris Ertel Work Experience Details
  • Brandopus
    Brandopus
    Chicago, Il, Us
  • Brandopus
    Strategy Director | Partner
    Brandopus Jun 2023 - Present
    London, England, Gb
  • Indee
    Brand Strategy Consultant
    Indee Mar 2021 - Present
    A modern marketing co-op of solopreneurs founded to give businesses better options. From brand strategy to UX, copywriting to video production, SEO to social media strategy, Indee is a one-stop-shop for any combination of A-list marketing pros
  • Equator Design
    Strategy Director
    Equator Design Jan 2022 - Jul 2023
    Manchester, Gb
    Newly hired as a Strategy Director for Equator, I develop, evolve and enhance strategy proposition for new and existing clients in retail and CPG markets. ►DEFINE CLEAR AND IMPACTFUL BRAND STRATEGY to position clients for success. ►LEAD, MANAGE, AND MENTOR TEAM to deliver brand strategy services to clients, including portfolio strategy, brand positioning, consumer insights, segmentation and consumer research.
  • Studionorth
    Senior Marketing Strategist
    Studionorth Feb 2021 - Jan 2022
    North Chicago, Il, Us
    I was originally hired by Studio North, an award-winning marketing agency, as a freelance consultant. Due to excellence in managing and completing large-scale projects, I was quickly offered a senior marketing strategist role. Key Achievements:►PARTNERED ON LENOVO B2B FISCAL OBJECTIVES, driving social media and brand positioning strategy for several campaigns across multiple verticals, including health, education, and channel marketing.►COLLABORATED ON LAUNCH OF LOGITECH B2B OFFERINGS; created positioning, value proposition, marketing strategy, and communication strategy,►DELIVERED PERSUASIVE PRESENTATIONS, webinars, and events that increased B2B leads for Lenovo.
  • Chris Ertel Consulting
    Owner And Director Of Creative Strategy
    Chris Ertel Consulting Jan 2021 - Jan 2022
    Consult with corporate and agency clients creating and connecting strategy with business execution. Help brands define their value proposition, core brand message and tone. Build creative briefs that aligns creative execution to business strategy. Current ProjectsBrand strategy and messaging for a $50B global technology companyBrand positioning for a venture backed start up luxury ecommerce brand, NYCCreative strategist for a design agency
  • Contrast
    Founder | Strategy Director
    Contrast Jan 2018 - 2021
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    I co-founded this boutique brand design agency which specialized in brand and design services for mid-market and challenger packaged goods brands.Leveraging an extensive network of contacts and significant industry expertise, I directed client acquisition and account management efforts for Tyson, Staples, Chervon, Simple Mills, and Turtle Wax – exceeding client needs by bridging the gap between strategy and design.Key Achievements:►DROVE $2M REVENUE IN TWO YEARS BY ARCHITECTING STRATEGIC PLAN AND SUPPORTING PROCESSES. Catalyzed account growth by interpreting data to glean actionable insights about trends and consumer behavior.►BUILT CLIENT-CENTRIC CULTURE – ALIGNING STRATEGY WITH TRANSPARENCY, CLARITY, AND RELIABILITY to achieve client goals. Conducted research and translated into strategic recommendations.►FOSTERED HIGH-LEVEL COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY BETWEEN CLIENT AND AGENCY TEAMS by creating virtual workshops, centered around innovation, brand, and communication strategy processes. ►DIRECTED LAUNCH AND EXECUTION OF TURTLE WAX SUB-BRAND. Aligned strategy and mission; built brand identity and value proposition, conducted consumer research, and led media channel positioning. ►ENSURED CLEAR MESSAGING AND VALUE PROPOSITION ACROSS ALL CHANNELS in a highly competitive, multibillion dollar category by creating comprehensive brand toolkits.►ACCELERATED $30K PROJECT LAUNCH FOR INSTANT POTS (TYSON) by creating alignment with design strategy.►LED VIRTUAL TEAM IN EXECUTING STAPLES’ PRIVATE LABEL BRANDS REPOSITIONING; managed adaptation process including brand standards, photography, illustrations, and copywriting.
  • Design Resource Center
    Director Of Brand Strategy
    Design Resource Center Apr 2017 - Dec 2017
    Naperville, Illinois, Us
    In this short-term role, I transformed an independent boutique brand adaptation agency by:►BUILDING BRAND STRATEGY, CREATING NEW PRODUCTS, AND FOSTERING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS between consumers and brands, including Kroger, Tyson, Sargento, and Guy & O’Neil. ►WINNING THE COMPANY’S FIRST BRAND CREATION PROJECT for ingredients supplier in home care cleaning space.
  • Bluedog Design, Llc
    Strategist
    Bluedog Design, Llc Jun 2016 - Apr 2017
    Chicago, Il, Us
    Invited to return to my former employer in a newly created role, I innovated pipeline development for CPG brands, including Wrigley, Morton, 3M, Tyson, and Mars Petcare. Key Achievements:►BUILT BIDS, WON PROJECTS, GREW SCOPE, AND CREATED COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING PLANS AND WORKSHOPS ushering adoption of recommendations by team and client to move forward. ►ACCELERATED DECISION MAKING AND ENGAGEMENT WITHIN COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES by influencing executive engagement and winning trust as desired single point of contact.►LANDED SUCCESSFUL INNOVATION PROJECTS: Morton Salt ($450K), Scotch Brite ($100K), Tyson Aidells Sausage ($100K); helped each client define and customer personas to with business to drive decisions.
  • Kaleidoscope ®
    Managing Director
    Kaleidoscope ® Apr 2015 - May 2016
    Chicago, Il, Us
    Recruited to serve as a key executive for a $25M independent brand consultancy with 4 global offices, I led a team in acquiring new business and designed strategy for brands including Aldi, Wrigley, ConAgra, Unilever, and Corelle Brands.►BUILT, DEVELOPED, AND LED A CLIENT-CENTRIC TEAM that generated $25M annual revenue. ►FOSTERED AN ENVIRONMENT OF TEAMWORK by creating and overhauling consulting processes and structure.►EXTENDED ACCOUNT TEAM after instituting and formalizing new roles. Created job description, scope of work, development plans, and compensation structure.
  • Bluedog Design, Llc
    Senior Brand Consultant
    Bluedog Design, Llc May 2011 - Apr 2015
    Chicago, Il, Us
    As a Senior Brand Consultant, I managed a $25M innovation pipeline development for CPG and B2B brands at a growth consultancy. Additionally, I spearheaded initiatives including account management, creative strategy, go-to-market strategy, business development, and qualitative and quantitative research.Key Achievements:►SOLVED COMPLEX BRAND PROBLEMS FOR GENERAL MILLS, WRIGLEY, AND 3M through design thinking, insight driven marketing, integrated marketing, and thoughtful product development. ►CREATED AND MONETIZED NEW CREATIVE PROCESSES; generated multiple design project engagements by serving as launch point for consumer-facing brand repositioning and purpose processes.►DROVE $3.5M IN PROJECT REVENUE by fostering and expanding agency relationships.
  • Landor Associates
    Senior Client Manager
    Landor Associates Sep 2007 - May 2011
    After success in both the company’s Cincinnati and Chicago offices, I was tapped by Managing Director to lead daily operations – including business development and planning, forecasting, and cross-cultural communications following the company’s acquisition of a nine-figure Kraft redesign project. Additionally, I:►AUTHORED RFP’S EXCEEDING $2M+. ►PARTNERED ON GLOBAL DESIGN STRATEGY FOR P&G EMEA. Areas of Responsibility: Business Development | Strategic Planning | Forecasting | Cross-Cultural Communications
  • Interbrand
    Account Leader
    Interbrand Sep 2005 - Sep 2007
    New York, Us
    As an Account Leader for Omnicon, a arketing consultancy specializing in brands and branding management with 24 offices in 17 countries, I led overall development and delivery of “A” and “B” client projects, including package design and brand strategy. Core Accountabilities: Thought Leadership | Proposal Development | Client Relationship Management | Account Executive Coaching | Project Management | Budget Management | Billing | Timeline Development | Revenue Forecasting
  • Sara Lee Foods
    Assistant Brand Manager
    Sara Lee Foods Jan 2002 - Sep 2005
    Chicago, Il, Us
    As an Assistant Brand Manager, I identified new segments and created long-term strategic marketing plan for the $294M Sara Lee Deli business. Collaborating directly with advertising agencies, I created local marketing development plans.Key Achievements:►IDENTIFIED NEW SEGMENTS AND CREATED LONG-TERM STRATEGIC MARKETING PLAN for $294M Sara Lee Service Deli Business.►DESIGNED GO-TO-MARKET STRATEGIES FOR 3 NEW PRODUCTS ($8M incremental profit).►REIMAGINED THE SARA LEE BRAND – complete with new packaging and label initiatives.Core Responsibilities: Brand Equity Studies | Consumer Research & Testing | Strategic Planning | Category Management | Panel Testing | Focus Groups | Brand Repositioning
  • Leo Burnett
    Media Buyer/Planner
    Leo Burnett Feb 2000 - Jan 2001
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    Key Achievements:►MANAGED NATIONAL TELEVISION ADVERTISING for: Sara Lee, Hanes, L’Eggs, Cross Your Heart, Ball Park Franks, Jimmy Dean, Ambi Pur, Sara Lee Bakery, Phillip Morris Youth Smoking Prevention, Payless Shoe Source►PARTNERED WITH MEDIA VENDORS to create promotional campaigns and strategies for Payless Shoe Source brand – resulting in incremental budget opportunities and out of home promotions.►IDENTIFIED NEW MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPANDED THE SARA LEE TARGET AUDIENCE for Ball Park Franks – resulting in new ad content and promotional campaigns.

Chris Ertel Skills

Brand Management Strategy Brand Development Advertising Brand Architecture Customer Insight Marketing Market Research Packaging Creative Strategy Project Management Marketing Strategy Integrated Marketing Media Planning Market Planning Branding And Identity Packaging Design Marketing Research Account Management Strategic Planning Art Direction Management Corporate Branding Microsoft Office Team Leadership Creative Direction Marketing Communications

Chris Ertel Education Details

  • University Of Cincinnati
    University Of Cincinnati
    Communications

Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Ertel

What company does Chris Ertel work for?

Chris Ertel works for Brandopus

What is Chris Ertel's role at the current company?

Chris Ertel's current role is Director of Creative Strategy ♦ Ideate, Reignite and Grow CPG Brands ♦ Innovation, Marketing, Design, Branding, and Advertising ♦ Strategic Brand Consulting.

What is Chris Ertel's email address?

Chris Ertel's email address is er****@****ail.com

What schools did Chris Ertel attend?

Chris Ertel attended University Of Cincinnati.

What skills is Chris Ertel known for?

Chris Ertel has skills like Brand Management, Strategy, Brand Development, Advertising, Brand Architecture, Customer Insight, Marketing, Market Research, Packaging, Creative Strategy, Project Management, Marketing Strategy.

Who are Chris Ertel's colleagues?

Chris Ertel's colleagues are Karina Sweet, Rachelle Allen, Anil Kachala, Ethan Proctor, Tyler L., Chloe Chumbler, Adam Rickett.

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