Russ is an Advisor & Principal of the New England Consulting Group, and a key member of our advertising and restaurant practice teams.
Russ has led teams on Gatorade, McDonalds, Maytag, Keebler, 7-Eleven and many more, setting the course for long-term growth as well as led marketing for major business turnarounds including Dr Pepper/Seven-Up and Burger King, all of which are outperforming their respective industry competitors.
Russ was most recently EVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Arby’s where he was responsible for a wholesale repositioning of the Arby’s brand. His other foodservice experience includes Burger King and Boston Market.
He has been named to “top marketer” lists spanning three decades, including his Burger King body of work that was recognized by ADWEEK as “The Advertiser of the Decade” for the 2000s. Russ’ team’s work has also received scores of industry awards for excellence with particular distinction for creativity, a Titanium Lion at Cannes, and new product innovation.
He began his career in advertising, achieving positions of increasing responsibility at Leo Burnett and Foote, Cone & Belding.
He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Russ is also the founder and sole donor of A Mother’s Love Foundation, in honor of his mother.
Russ holds a B.S.B.A. in Marketing from Ohio State University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School, where he was elected graduation commencement speaker.
