MiniMBA

Founder

Melbourne Business School

Teaching brand management at Australia’s top rated MBA program. Winner of the teaching prize five times. In 2013 I stepped down from a full time role and became an adjunct professor to focus on consulting and in 2019 retired completely.

Associate Professor

MIT Sloan School of Management

Taught the Core Marketing class on MIT Sloan's prestigious MBA program and then its EMBA program. Won the MBA Teaching Prize in 2009.

Visiting Professor

London Business School

Taught Core Marketing and the Brand Management elective on the LBS MBA program. Teacher of the Year in 2002.

Assistant Professor

University of Minnesota

My first tenure track position teaching Marketing to MBAs and Undergraduates at one of America's great Universities.

I have a PhD in Marketing and spent 25 years working as a marketing professor. I was an Assistant Professor at London Business School and the University of Minnesota, an Associate Professor and then Adjunct Professor at Melbourne Business School, and Visiting Professor at MIT. My MBA teaching won a shit ton of prizes including best teacher at LBS, MIT & MBS. 

I have also worked as a global brand consultant for clients that include Baxter, Loewe, McKinsey, Subaru, Donna Karan, Westpac, Shiseido, Flight Centre, Johnson & Johnson, De Beers, Sephora, Benefit, Amgen, Ericsson, Penfolds, Jurlique, Cloudy Bay and WD40. 

For thirteen years - from 2002 to 2015 - I served as the in-house brand consultant for LVMH - the world's largest luxury group - working in Paris with senior executives from brands like Louis Vuitton, Dom Perignon and Hennessy. 

I’ve been a columnist for 20 years, writing a weekly column for Marketing, then Marketing Week and now AdWeek in the US and The Drum in the UK. On seven occasions I've been voted Columnist of the Year at the PPA Press Awards, the highest award for magazine journalism in the UK. I’ve also been the British Society of Magazine Editors Business Columnist of the Year in 2018, 2022 and 2023. More scholarly articles include the Sloan Management Review, Harvard Business Review, the Journal of Advertising and the Journal of Consumer Research. 

I was a Thouron Scholar and spent 1995 at Wharton. I was a recipient of the Ferber Award in 2000 for my doctoral thesis. My co-authored pricing research was cited by George Akerlof during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech. AdNews rated me one of their “Power 50” and I made SmartCompany's top ten business thinkers list. The AMI gave me the Sir Charles McGrath Award, the highest honour for marketing in Australia. I gave the 30th Anniversary Levitt Group lecture for the Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2019 and the Ogilvy lecture for the Marketing Society a year later. In the 2024 honours list I was a made an Honorary Fellow of the IPA. 

These days I focus on my Mini MBA courses. I live in Tasmania with 3 Tasmanians plus many idiot rescue dogs. I have a boat that I never use. And a gym that I use even less. But I do find time to drink wine, usually in my underpants, until very early in the morning marvelling at the absurdity of it all. 

Note, I’ve maxed out at 30,000 LinkedIn connections. So please follow me instead. And I’ll follow you. Like FDR and Churchill. At Yalta.

Mark Ritson

When a founder takes out a page in the WSJ to protest how his brand is being run. It’s time to pay attention…
#brand #marketing

Open article: Corporate Pressure Killed Lululemon’s Creative Soul by adweek.com

Corporate Pressure Killed Lululemon’s Creative Soul

Hexdon

Hexdon is a customer retention consultancy. We help Marketing & Sales leaders to increase their impact with customer & market insight that spotlights where to play and how to win.

• Customer & Market Research that delivers strategic and operational insight on where to play and how to win.
• CX & Engagement initiatives that deliver meaningful ROI
• Increase your credibility with the board

Client List: Samsung, Evans UK, City Chic (ASX:CCX), Bioniq, The Sydney Marathon, SPRHRA, The DMA

Founder & Director, Customer Retention Officer

Samsung Electronics

Enabling People, Data and Insight at the heart of Samsung Europe so their flagship launches acquire and retain customers while growing market share.

DataIQ 100 Alumni, and 2x DataIQ Awards.

Increasing data literacy was at the heart of my motivation to succeed in this role. I lead data innovation with the European Office in collaboration with Samsung country markets as part of the the European Consumer & Market Insights team.
 
* Support Samsung Europe flagship product launches from S8 through to Note10, with consumer centric data driven best practice, partnering with the best in the industry (Google, Starcom, Kantar, Cheil, Adam&Eve etc).
* Define and deliver against the European Consumer & Market Analytics Roadmap.
* Scope, design, develop, deliver & lead the European Business Intelligence Platform called smartBI (powered by QlikSense) and rolled it out across Europe.
* Implemented solutions for Samsung President and teams across Executive, Retail, Commercial, Consumer, Market and Product Campaign pillars
* Implemented Samsung's Knowledge Management Platform called smartHub. 
* Increase data literacy through transformation programmes across our European Subsidiaries.
* Work with agencies to deliver a consistent consumer segmentation framework, informing product design through to campaign execution through the line.
* Support the European Consumer Data Strategy project in readiness for GDPR coming into effect in May 2018.
* Lead governance with the European DMP, increasing ROI across the markets.
* Keynote speaker at Qlik's annual Data Revolution Tour.

European Head of Data Innovation

Havas helia

An exciting move to marketing and advertising agency land. This is an opportunity to exercise my craft, implementing best practice with key clients - easyJet and Westfield.

At Havas helia, we use data, technology, intuition and creativity to connect people to brands in a meaningful way.

We call this a smarter art.

Planning Director

Super Retail Group

Australia's largest and most loved sports & leisure group. Initially appointed Customer Insight & Data Strategy Manager, in November 2013 I was promoted to Head of Digital & Data with accountability for the development of strategy and execution across SRG Sports with a focus on iconic sports brands. I delivered customer insights and identified profitable multi-channel customer segments to maximise ROI and delivered econometric modelling solutions to shift spend towards digital channels. I was also responsible for supporting marketing integration following the acquisition of Rebel Group and leading the implementation of SAP. Providing leadership to 30+ reports, I developed KPIs and team dashboards to drive a high performance culture, improve campaign performance and revenue. 


•	Realised significant performance improvements during my tenure including 91% growth in online traffic, 27% active member growth and eDM ROI of over 1500%;
•	Delivered Web and Customer streams as part of an enterprise SAP implementation, successfully managing significant transformation affecting people, process and systems;
•	Led the Customer Service Team through high intensity ecommerce trading periods and expanded the team by 600% to meet SLA expectations as defined in the customer charter.
•	Owned the closed loop customer feedback program and in collaboration with Retail Operations, grew NPS from 10% to 50% within 3 years.

Head of Digital & Data - Sports Retailing

In this role, I manage eCommerce, CRM Insights and Analytics and Customer Service teams. 

This role also includes responsibility as the Business Lead for the SAP CRM / Web project stream, which falls in-line with the wider SAP integration into Super Retail Group.

Customer Insight & Data Strategy Manager

Specialty Fashion Group

Starting as Data Analyst reporting to the GM – Marketing, I progressed to Group Data Strategist in March 2010 and was promoted to Group Loyalty & Analytics Manager in January 2012. Responsible for the Customer data strategy, analytics and insights across the Brands, I was also accountable for the implementation of brand loyalty programmes across the business. I also consulted with Brand GMs on delivering direct and digital marketing strategies to improve commercial performance. Providing expert knowledge and guidance to Brands across the Group, I developed strategic roadmaps detailing recommendations on programme launches, customer engagement and IT infrastructure to support timely campaign delivery and maximise ROI. A key focus in this role was building strong relationships across business functions to successfully manage the shift towards omni-channel retail and ecommerce.

•	Delivered omni-channel capability that enabled the analysis of campaigning for 7 million brand loyalty members;
•	Improvement of campaign analytics and utilisation of insights delivered a 50% reduction in distribution, whilst maintaining sales and margin targets;
•	Implemented data utilisation best practice and data governance resulting in eDM campaign ROI surpassing 1900%;
•	Winner of the 2012 Cross Channel Analytics Retail Touch Points Customer Engagement Award.

Group Loyalty & Analytics Manager

Group Data Strategist

Data Analyst

Sterling Financial

In this operations role, I took full responsibility for leading the set-up of a BPO entity for Sterling called “Canto” managing all aspects including recruitment, client management and process development. My mandate was to realise operational cost savings and tap into local and international market opportunities for the wider company by facilitating the transfer of work to a lower cost location, whilst establishing an APAC presence. 

•	Increased accuracy of client work to 98% whilst reducing London-Chennai turnaround time to 4 hours;
•	Achieved operational cost savings to reduce client costs by 28% which secured our competitiveness and stable revenue performance at a time of print market decline.

Head of Operations - Canto

Crossword Graphics Ltd / Digital Creative Services

Leading the production operations of a Financial Services print and publishing company, I was accountable for managing client relationships to secure the existing and future performance of the business. With a shared ownership for P&L, I also contributed to sales, negotiations, account management and business development strategies. 

•	Built new IT infrastructure, implementing a package that realised 40% faster delivery to clients;
•	Increased and diversified client base by identifying and securing large clients and upselling work across the existing client portfolio.

Director

I Help Consumer Brand Leaders Boost the 'R' in CRM | Retention » Relationships » Revenue | DTC, eCommerce, Retail

Hello ► Marketing & Sales leaders come to me to help them fix their CRM woes and turn it in to business value.

At Hexdon, we address this challenge with our focus on customers, data, insight and action at the heart.  And Technology. Clay, OpenAI, Anthropic, LinkedIn, HubSpot etc are at the core.

Example results (B2B) utilising HexdonIQ’s tech stack:

📈 Delivered 403 warm leads to a client in 3 months
📈 Scored 20k accounts with relevant tiering & value in 24 hours
📈 Mapped out GTM strategy and operations
📈 Applied research agents so sales can focus on high value relationships.

Expanding on the challenge ►
Your CRM data is going stale as you read this.  Bad CRM data = bad sales. 
This means you need to:

1. Place customer centricity at the heart. 
2. Leverage data & technology to enrich & enhance.
3. Create intent based actions to increase sales pipeline velocity.

⚡️ DM me and share your challenge. 
🤝 I'll share my framework for you to do it yourself.
🚀 And if you need help, I'm here to help you accelerate to win.

Recognition ► After a successful stint as European Head of Data Innovation at Samsung Europe where I led the European Marketing team to 2x DataIQ Awards and featured in the DataIQ 100, it felt like the time to do more: take my passion for customers and data and apply my energy to help B2B businesses to win.

Customer Centric ► At Hexdon, we've worked with organisations large and small between London and Sydney over 20 years and know that when you truly love your customers, they love you back. This is why understanding them and the market in which your Brand meets them is so important.

Follow Me ► We share common challenges that leaders like you face along with fuel for thought on how to overcome them.

Let's Talk ► Scroll to the Top Of Page, or the Featured Section or Email me at hello@hexdon.com.

Daryl D'Cruz

Another fantastic CMO Summit last week, packed with friends new and old; and inspirational stories that had it all.

From life challenges and marketing disasters,
Through grit, resilience, and teamwork,
To the phoenix moments that remind us why we do what we do.

The morning panel was like a shot of caffeine:
David Enwright, Sara Marshall, Simonetta Rigo, Suzanne Lord CGA, and Lucy Alligan.

Super impressed by you, Mica Moore OLY.
Loved the journey you’re on, Rhiannon Scarlett.
Biggest aha moments from Nick Morris re. brand relevance.

Still buzzing from the energy at the event.
It's big enough to meet lots of people but not too big it's impersonal.

When marketing & data folks come together with curiosity and courage, magic happens.

Thanks Inspired Business Media, Leigh Khan Hussain, Charlotte Wheeler (Crosby), Rhys R, Gerryn, Julia and team for another cracking event!

I create new pipeline for Data & Marketing Providers | CRO/CEO-first | DMA - B2B Council & 5x Awards Judge

This time last week I was locked in a bubble.
No phone, lots of caffeine and even more sugar.
Fortunately I wasn’t alone. 
 
Spent the day judging the DMA (Data & Marketing Association) UK Awards #B2B Category with these legends.

We had 16 entries to review and shortlist through the lens of:
 
STRATEGY: Lightbulb exploding moments of eureka creativity and bolder than bold innovation

CREATIVITY: It’s been said Creativity is evidence of intelligence having fun

RESULTS: Championing the role of Results along with crystallising brilliant creativity and rock solid strategy. 

Of course data, insights, customer and people were the thread through all the entries.

Ultimately, we were looking for work that takes our industry in a new and inspiring direction. 

The shortlist has just been announced - see who made it across all the categories!

Thanks to Rachel Aldighieri, Tobi Demuren, Ellie Turner, my fellow B2B judges and the whole DMA Awards team for a cracking day and week!

Any of my Data & Marketing friends heading to the Inspired Summit today? 

I’m not moderating or hosting the welcome dinner tonight so no nerves and just super excited to get stuck into some great conversations on all things marketing, data and growth. 

See you soon Leigh and team Inspired Business Media

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A cracking turn out at Clay Club London last night. 

Here's Bill doing a stellar job of opening the evening, also Vukasin from HeyReach.io and then Cody from Verkada, sharing their wins and insights on all things GTM Engineering for 2026. 

The world of Go To Market Engineering is moving forward at an electric pace with all the data, tech and innovations coming at us from all angles. 

It's so easy to get caught up in the speed of change and so it really stood out to me that we must stay true to the fundamentals: business efficiencies and outcomes.

And critically:
—  Prioritise Account Based Experience first principles; while
— Staying on our toes, experimenting at every opportunity

Great to meet so many new friends and see you at the next one Varun Anand?!

taplio

The Battle

Mark Ritson

Daryl D'Cruz

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Performance ScoreMark Ritson's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Mark Ritson

Daryl D'Cruz

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Mark Ritson's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreDaryl D'Cruz's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreMark Ritson's LinkedIn Performance