Company Overview:
Our client is the Asia region of a global insurance and financial services company. Our client offers products including insurance, pensions, mutual funds, banking, investment management, and general insurance products and services through a variety of respected brands.

By listening carefully, our client offers innovative products to meet a consumer’s individual needs. Our client’s products are tailored – to suit a particular stage in life, to understand gender differences, or to satisfy a country’s distinctive needs.

Position
The CMO position is a key new executive role in support of the Asia region business. This position will provide hands-on marketing leadership in areas including marketing strategy and analysis, branding and brand management, direct and database marketing, customer relationship management, integrated marketing communications, e-mail and internet marketing, and overall marketing program evaluation.

Reporting Relationship
The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) position will report directly to the CEO of the Asia region.

As our client is part of a global financial services company, the CMO position will have in some areas a matrix relationship with the Group Headquarters (UK).

Scope of Role

Mission

1. The CMO has the overall responsibility to create and implement a marketing strategy which supports the business units to meet and exceed the target revenue numbers in 2008 and beyond.
2. The CMO will lead the change process for our client to become a truly marketing led organization.

Key responsibilities

• Bring strong marketing leadership and functional expertise to position our client’s services in all the key Asia region markets as a “best-in-class" global competitor.
• Develop a marketing strategy for our client and its business units covering elements including branding, brand positioning, marketing research, product management, customer management, product development, channel/distribution strategies, covering Funds, Insurance and CF businesses.
• Give leadership to strengthening of the quality, performance and development of marketing staff throughout the region. Lead interventions to build the marketing talent pipeline, assist in attracting/recruiting top marketing talent, and build and oversee “high performance" marketing teams on a matrix basis across our client’s businesses and regional markets.
• Convert the approved marketing strategies into budgets and resources as well as operational and tactical marketing plans and programs.
• Create consumer-, market- and competitor- intelligence insights and strengthen understanding, knowledge, and market research of both consumer and business-to-business markets.
• Develop, oversee, approve, and manage regional marketing budgets including advertising, media placements, promotion, direct and database marketing, digital marketing/e-commerce, sponsorships, and events.
• Oversee selection, management, and evaluation of all outside marketing agencies assisting our client on a regional basis, including advertising, brand consulting, direct and internet marketing, event marketing, public relations, and sponsorships.
• Develop and implement metrics and processes, in collaboration with the CFO, to measure and maximize effectiveness of marketing strategies and tactics and link performance of all marketing associates to them.

Qualifications:

• Prior successful (CMO) marketing, branding, and marketing communications experience building B2C and B2B businesses of similar or larger size and budget.
• Experience in the financial services (i.e., insurance, funds/wealth management) is desirable.
• Successful CMO experience in other category leaders and “best in class" marketing organizations (i.e., CPG) is also desirable.
• Prior successful marketing experience and broad knowledge/understanding of the Asia region markets is essential.

The successful candidate will be a proven, successful branding, marketing and marketing communications professional with the following qualifications:

• 15+ years of B2C and B2B marketing, including 3-5 years at a CMO level; background in consumer product (CPG) marketing experience, in addition to insurance/financial services, is a plus.
• Strong leadership and change management skills and proven ability to transform an organization into a marketing- and customer-led organization.
• Thought leader in all areas of marketing, including branding, brand positioning, marketing research, product management, product development, customer management, distribution strategies, integrated marketing communications, digital marketing/e-commerce, public relations, and events/sponsorships.
• Drive, build, lead and manage regional marketing organizations effectively in a complex matrix environment, assuring that marketing personnel gain traction, credibility, and contribute to profitably building PCA businesses and geographic territories.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to gain internal respect and build consensus with superiors, peers, and subordinates.
• Excellent communication skills including oral/written and presentation skills; proficiency in preparation and presentation of analytical reports and documents regarding operational status, achievement, and performance.
• Knowledge of organizational design, financial budgeting and control activities, as related to achieving operational accountabilities; strong financial, analytical and planning skills.

Education:
The successful candidate will have a Master’s Degree in business, marketing or related discipline.

Compensation:
As our client is seeking an outstanding individual for this important new position, they are offering an attractive compensation package including base salary, discretionary cash bonus, long-term incentives and personal benefits.

Contact:
Executive Connections, LLC is handling this search on an exclusive basis.

For additional information regarding our client and this opportunity, please contact:

Jeff Gundersen
860-435-0555 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              860-435-0555      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (office)
941-323-8300 (mobile)
jgundersen@executiveconnects.com