Delivering business transformation since 1999
Marcus Podorf is an award-winning, independent director, strategist and senior advisor with 23 years of experience in leading the turnaround, marketing and transformation for businesses, products and services from the high-end sector.
Dear Business Partners,
My name is Marcus Podorf.
I believe that, in the ever-changing global market, we all value a trusted guide and advisor.
As such, my company helps businesses transform and build strong brands that also provide lasting value for the people, the society, our environment and the profit alike.
My clients have long placed their trust in our advice, which has led them to better and deeper human relationships, better business and marketing value, new growth and also better brand and business perception in their respective fields.
We take a human approach to everything.
If you are either facing a challenge with your existing business or are planning a new venture from scratch, please feel free to contact us at any time to discuss your challenges:
Thank you,
Marcus
Founder
Diploma of Marketing and Communication (CCI) / Werbekaufmann IHK
Certified Instructor for Marketing and Communication (HCC) / Ausbilder HKH
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Key facts
Attitude
Initiatives
Engagements & projects
Mentorings
Awards
Conventions
Education & studies
Biography
Key facts
General university entrance qualification (A-Level/Abitur) in Arts, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Sports, 1998
Military Service for ±1 year, trained as driver for dangerous goods and munition handler on a 8×8-MAN, 5 to Mil GL, and the Mercedes-Benz Wolf GL (Mercedes-Benz G-Class)
Started his professional career in Minster (Westf.) at KP&Z advertising agency, 1999
Diploma of Marketing and Communication (CCI)/Werbekaufmann IHK, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dortmund, 2002
Mentor and Certified Instructor for Marketing and Communication (HCC)/Ausbilder, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, since 2009 (Out of practice since mid-2012)
Independent Entrepreneur, since 2012
Led several, highly complex premium and luxury brand relaunches and brand transformation projects (incl. Design, Intelligence, CRM, UX, CX and Digitisation) / Operational experience in media production, direct marketing and communications planning, tactical and strategic
Set up and led various teams, accounts and business units / Led dedicated teams in approx. 7,000 to 7,500 brand, marketing and sales communication projects of all sizes and across offices
Today, Marcus Podorf is an independent Director, Strategist and Senior Advisor, including 23 years’ operational and strategic experience with brands, marketing and transformation strategies
Attitude
Vison-driven, goal-focussed, with proven history of innovation and achievement / Achieves outstanding results and excellence through hard work, performance, and attention to the detail / Believes in taking the human approach to everything / Acts according to the principles of the honourable businessman (CCI/IHK) / Advises independently and objectively / Builds relationships based on trust, transparency and reliability
‘Excellent collaboration, a good listener and a good thinker. Is comfortable challenging opinions in a constructive
way. Creative and flexible, yet doesn’t lose sight of what is important.‘ – Anja Langer Jacquin, Founder of ValueChange start-up and former Managing Director EMEA & Russia of CISCO Consulting
Initiatives
The Berlin Strategy School℠
Project / Founder, 2019
Engagements & projects
Independent
Media.Monks x BMW Europe x The Marcom Engine, transnational, 2021-2023
Lead CRM, Design & Intelligence Projects for BMW Germany
Projects & Campaigns for BMW Austria, BMW Eastern Europe, BMW Germany and BMW Switzerland
TIIME Apps Ecosystem, Berlin-Brandenburg, 2022-2023
Repositioning, Strategy & Conception
Integrated Product, Brand & Marketing Excellence
Digital Marketing
CRM
enteron® solutions, Berlin-Brandenburg, since 2022
Repositioning
WebDev, Tech Solutions
PayPal Europe x Scholz & Friends, Berlin, 2022
Projects & Campaigns
ATL, Social Media
thyssenkrupp infrastructure x thjnk, Berlin/Duesseldorf 2021-2022
Interim Director of Rebranding for thyssenkrupp infrastructure
Design, Identity & Delivery Excellence
kolula, Berlin-Brandenburg, 2020-2021
UX Strategy / Digital Product Experience
tom logisch®, Berlin-Brandenburg, since 2020
Rebranding
Brand & Integrated Marketing Excellence
Rebranding, CRM
WebDev, Tech Solutions
VORN Strategy Consulting & Hirschen Group, Berlin, 2018-2020
Interim Director; Business Development and Strategy Advisory for Strategic Accounts:
BDO AG
Deutsche Bahn
Doerken Group
Hyundai N
Globus Group Germany & Eastern Europe
Client Lead and Interim Director, Brand Strategy & Planning (International) for:
Markem-Imaje, the world leader in CPG-tech
Zalando / Zalando Outlet Stores, Berlin, 2019
Interim Marketing Lead Zalando Outlet Stores
Wantedly Inc., Berlin/Tokyo, 2018-2019
Communications Strategy, Brand & Integrated Marketing Excellence
Upljft, Hamburg, 2018-2019
Delivered various projects for national and international, industry-leading accounts
Base Element, Nicosia, 2017-2019
Digital Transformation & Strategy
Lufthansa x DDB & Tribal, Hamburg, 2017-2018
Interim Head of the Lufthansa ‘New Premium’ Brand Refresh
Interim Head of the Lufthansa Group Airlines Rebranding
ValueChange / valuechange.net, Geneva, since 2016
Brand Identity, Brand Design, Website code and content strategy
Home of the Wild / homeofthewild.com, Marloth Park/South Africa, since 2015
Brand Positioning, Brand Identity, Brand Design, Website code and content strategy
Foodspread start-up, Hamburg/Cape Town, 2014-2015
Founder
thjnk, Duesseldorf, 2013-2014
Client Services & Direction for various accounts of thjnk
Antonio Rubio / Ihr Unternehmen lebt., Hamburg, 2012-2013
Brand Positioning, Brand Identity, Brand Design, Claim Development, Website content strategy
Pott & Harms Immobilien GmbH / Immobilien neu gedacht., Hamburg, 2012-2013
Brand Positioning, Brand Identity, Brand Design, Claim Development, Digital CX Workshop, Website content strategy
Ann-Marlene Henning / ‘Make Love’ Movement Strategy, Hamburg, 2012-2013
Planning & redesigning the digital ecosystem of website, vlog and social media, Business Change Strategy, Workshops and Communications Strategy in preparation of Ann-Marlene’s ‘Make Love’ TV series & ‘Make Love’ Book publishings
T-Systems x Philipp & Keuntje, Hamburg, 2012
UX Strategy – Platform strategy, branding and campaign experience ecosystem for T-Systems
Permanent
antoni start-up for Mercedes-Benz, Berlin, 2016-2017
Account Director, CRM Mercedes-Benz
The Wunderman Network, Hamburg/Frankfurt/transnational, 2008-2012Client Service Director & Instructor for Marketing and Communication (Hamburg CC)
Account Director & Instructor for Marketing and Communication (Hamburg CC)
weigertpirouzwolf advertising agency, Hamburg, 2006-2008
Account Director
Senior Account Manager
KP&Z advertising agency, Minster (Westf.), 1999-2006
Key Account Manager Konica Minolta Europe
Marketing Consultant and Head of Production – Focus Ad Media, Print, Direct and CRM
Diploma of Marketing and Communication (CCI Dortmund)
Forced career breaks
Victim of a violent crime, Berlin, 2021
Victim of a violent crime, Hamburg, 2013 & 2014
Mentorings
Berlin UX Mentor 2018 meetup with tinidad Labs, Berlin, June 2018
Mentor & expert for brand and user experience
antoni, Berlin / Start-up, February 2016-May 2017
Mentor & expert for digital culture and culture change strategy
The DO School, Berlin, February 2016-September 2016
Mentor & expert for various students, led branding workshop for NGOs
ADC Art Directors Club Germany, Berlin, 2014
Mentor & expert, led strategic planning workshop
The Wunderman Network, Hamburg / Frankfurt, July 2008-August 2012
Mentor Corporate Communications for the Wunderman Germany group
Instructor for Marketing and Communication (HCC)
Awards
Finalist at Effie Austria, 2020
Sky X Announcement Campaign, client rewarded
ADC Award, 2018
Mercedes-Benz ‘Grow up’ Campaign, team rewarded
Silver Effie, 2018
Mercedes-Benz ‘Grow up’ Campaign, team rewarded
Cannes Lions Gold, 2018
Mercedes-Benz ‘Grow up’ Campaign, team rewarded
RISE Conference 2015: Alpha Stage Nominee, 2015
‘Foodspread’ Start-up
Grimme Online Award Nominee, 2014
‘Make Love’ Movement, client rewarded
Agency of the Future Award Winner, 2012
Independent
2x DDP Deutscher Dialogmarketing Preis, 2012
airtours Luxury Travel, team rewarded
Silver Medal, SDV Award, 2012
airtours Luxury Travel, team rewarded
Golden Award of Montreux, 2012
airtours Luxury Travel, team rewarded
BoB Best of Business Award: Shortlist, 2012
airtours Luxury Travel, team rewarded
CREA Credential Award, 2012
Wunderman Germany, team rewarded
Mailing Award, 2010
Tourism Ireland, team rewarded
Mailing Award, 2009
Tourism Ireland, team rewarded
Mailing Award, 2008
greenpeace magazin, team rewarded
GWA Production Award, 2008
Lufthansa Miles & More Credit Card, team rewarded
red dot Award: Communication Design, 2004
Konica Minolta Europe, team rewarded
DDP Deutscher Dialogmarketing Preis, 2004
Konica Minolta Europe, ‘Scranning’ dialogue marketing campaign, team rewarded
2x Mailing Award, 2005
itelligence AG/SAP, ista® Energy Services, team rewarded
Mailing Award, 2004
Konica Minolta, ‘Scranning’ dialogue marketing campaign, team rewarded
Mailing Award, 2003
KP&Z Agentur für Dialogmarketing/Eigenwerbung, team rewarded
Mailing Award, 2002
Teupen AG, team rewarded
Mailing Award, 2001
x-dot, team rewarded
National Fan Website Awards of ‘PC Magazin’: 2nd place, 1996
Reviewed as ‘Pioneer of the Internet’ for the former German BL2-Bundesliga Club LR Ahlen,
redspirit.de
Conventions
Freelance Unlocked 2024, Berlin, Germany – Invited by exali AG
eCommerce expo 2020, Berlin, Germany
Future Affairs 2019, Berlin, Germany
Connections ’19 by LeBook, London, UK
Aviation Event 2019 Conference, Salzburg, Austria
Salesforce Basecamp 2019, Berlin, Germany
WeWork Summer Camp 2018, Eridge Park, England
Connections ’18 by LeBook, Berlin, Germany
TOA 2018, Berlin, Germany
APG Grow 2017 Account Planning Group conference, Hamburg, Germany
Hillsong Conference 14, New York, USA
Web Summit 2014, Dublin, Ireland
re:publica 14, Berlin, Germany
dmexco 2013, Cologne, German
Campus Party Europe 12, Berlin, Germany
dmexco 2012, Cologne, Germany
Speaker at Mailing Tage 2009, Nuremberg, Germany
and others
Education & studies
‘Meisner Technique’ Workshops with Steven Ditmyer, Alum of Sanford Meisner, 2020
B2B Marketing on LinkedIn, LinkedIn Academy, 2019
Advanced Google Analytics, Google Analytics Academy, 2019
Google Analytics for Beginners, Google Analytics Academy, 2019
UX Direction – Designing UX with Willy Lai, former Director of User Experience at PayPal, Apple, Samsung & Macy’s, 2017
‘Action from the Heart’ with Nobel Peace Prize nominee Scilla Elworthy, The Be(e) School, 2013
‘We Change’ Integral Leadership Training, imu Augsburg, 2012-2013
Cultural and Social Studies in South Africa, Israel, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, 2012-2019
Business Model Canvas, Personas & Empathy Cards, Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, 2012
‘Dragon Dreaming’ Innovative Project Management, Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, 2012
Storytelling: The Journey of Heroes, Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, 2012
Mentor and Certified Instructor for Marketing and Communication (HCC), HK Hamburg, since 2009 (Out of practice since mid-2012)
Diploma of Marketing and Communication (CCI), IHK Dortmund, 2002
Military Service, trained as driver for dangerous goods and munition handler on a 8×8-MAN, 5 to Mil GL and Mercedes-Benz Wolf GL/G-Class
General university entrance qualification (Abitur) in Arts, Mathematics, Social Science and Sports, 1998
Biography
Born in Ahlen, North Rine-Westphalia, in 1978
German: native / English: fluent
Mother: Travel Agent, Artist
Father: Painter
Grandmothers: Industrial Management Assistant & Honourable Businesswoman, Home-Makers
Grandfathers: (1) Engineer, Artist, (2) Victim of WWII
Great-grandparents: Entrepreneurs in the Metal Industry
Lived in Ahlen (Westf.), Minster (Westf., 2000-2006), Hamburg (2006-2016) and in Berlin, Germany (since 2016)
Youth: Founded several clubs as Youngster, e.g. the VFB ’94 Ahlen football club, founding member of a street football league and regular cup tournaments / Customised various computer-games for his friends (and himself) / First award and publicly recognised PR-stunts for the travel agency of his mother in ±1990 and the local LR Ahlen football club since ±1996 / Founded RED.SPIRIT.AHLEN fan club for the former German 2nd Bundesliga club LR Ahlen, ±1996
Personal engagements & experiences: Member of the FDP Free Democratic Party (±2 years, 2018-2021) / Former Airbnb host and heavy user, 2013-2016 / Frequent traveller, ±30 countries travelled so far, with regular personal presences in Cape Town and Bangkok between 2012 and 2019 / Did round trips throughout South Africa (±4.470 km), the Southern US and also e. g. Southeast Asia of ±4 months in preparation of the RISE 2015 Conference in Hong Kong / Did e. g. pet-and house-sitting in Parañaque/Philippines and on Langkawi Island/Malaysia, 2015
Countries visited, before 2006: Cyprus / Greece / France (road trip from Germany to Portugal, e. g. Paris, the Atlantic Coast, Marseille, Galicia, Lisbon) / Italy / Portugal / Spain / Sri Lanka (Round trip) / Turkey / The United States of America (road trip through the Southern States of Virgina, North and South Carolina, Florida and the Florida Keys) and the United Kingdom // After 2006: Argentina / Austria / Brazil (Iguaçu & Itaipú) / Egypt / France (Paris) / Croatia / Czech Republic / Greece / Ireland / Israel (Road trip of ±460 km / Jerusalem / Sea of Galilea/Lake Tiberias / Dead Sea / The West Bank Wall / Haifa / Tel Aviv & Tel Aviv Yafo) / Lesotho / Malaysia / Malta / Paraguay (Itaipú) / Philippines (Parañaque & Manila) / South Africa (e. g., 1x road trip of ±4.470 km throughout the country, regular personal presence in Cape Town) / Southeast Asia (round trip of ±4 months in preparation of the RISE 2015 Conference in Hong Kong, combined with Pet and House sitting / travelled e. g. by overnight train from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok / Taiwan, Taoyuan International Airport / Philippines / Malaysia / Thailand) / Sweden / The Netherlands / Turkey / United States of America (New York, 2nd road trip through the Southern States of Virgina, North and South Carolina, Florida and the Florida Keys) // Since 2016: Belgium / Denmark / France (Paris) / Hong Kong / Poland / Spain (Barcelona) / Switzerland / Thailand (regular personal presence in Bangkok) / United Kingdom (London)
Civil rights cases successfully fought: ./. Allodium Capital GmbH, IKB lawyers & Nieber Scheidacker lawyers (18 C 252/22 AG.K), 2022-2024 / ./. Falk & Co. Group tax auditors (32 C 2620/22 (69) AG.FAM; 32 C 1992/23 (27) AG.FAM), 2022-2023 / ./. Meier & Kolleg:innen lawyers (212 C 73/22 AG.C), 2022-2023 / ./. Melchers Group lawyers (29 C 3616/22 (19) AG.FAM; 7 C 292/23 AG.K), 2023-2024 / and more
Last updated: 05 Sept 2024