Martin Roll
Martin Roll | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 2, 1967 Denmark |
| Occupation(s) | Author, brand strategist, management consultant |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Known for | Asian Brand Strategy (book), founder and CEO of Martin Roll Company |
Martin Roll (born 2 March 1967) is a Danish author, brand strategist, and management consultant known for his frequent contributions to international media. He holds an MBA from INSEAD, where he serves as a Distinguished Fellow and Entrepreneur in Residence. His debut book, Asian Brand Strategy, was honored as one of the "Best Business Books: Marketing" by Strategy+Business magazine in 2006.
As the founder and CEO of Martin Roll Company, a consulting firm based in Singapore, he advises Fortune 500 corporations, Asian enterprises, and family-run businesses. Additionally, Roll has provided senior advisory services to McKinsey & Company.
Early life and education
Martin Roll completed his bachelor's degree in business with a focus on marketing management at Copenhagen Business School in 1989. He further advanced his education by finishing the Young Managers Program in 1998 and earned an MBA from INSEAD in 1999.
Career
Following his graduation in 1989, Roll gained experience at marketing and advertising agencies such as Bates and DDB Worldwide, where he managed global clients including Ericsson and McDonald's. In 2000, he took on the role of chief marketing officer (CMO) at a Danish technology company headquartered in Singapore. Two years later, he established his own management consulting firm specializing in guiding companies to develop global brands. His consultancy work spans Fortune 500 firms, Asian businesses, and family enterprises, focusing on strategy, leadership, branding, and marketing.
In December 2011, Roll was named Senior Adviser to the international PR agency Burson-Marsteller. By October 2017, he joined Singapore-based venture capital firm Cocoon Capital as a Senior Advisor. He is also an Associate Fellow at the Institute on Asian Consumer Insight (ACI) within Nanyang Business School. In March 2019, Roll took on the role of Senior Advisor at freelance agency Superson. His advisory portfolio includes a senior advisory position with McKinsey & Company.
Publications
Roll authored Asian Brand Strategy: How Asia Builds Strong Brands in 2005, published by Palgrave Macmillan. This work is widely regarded as a seminal text on branding strategies within Asia and was selected as one of the top marketing books globally in 2006 by Strategy+Business. Harvard Business School’s professor John Quelch praised it as "an essential guide for Asian executives" pursuing international growth.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Roll presents "10 methods for creating an Asian brand in a market that has often undervalued image." Dominic Barton from McKinsey & Company commended the book as a pragmatic framework grounded in extensive experience advising Asian companies.
In 2016, Roll collaborated with renowned marketing scholars such as Kevin Lane Keller, Don E. Schultz, and Rajendra K. Srivastava to co-author The Future of Branding. He regularly contributes thought leadership articles on global brand management to both Harvard Business Review and INSEAD Knowledge.
Public speaking
Martin Roll frequently delivers keynote addresses and serves as master of ceremonies at international forums centered on business and brand strategy. His presentations often emphasize Asian branding, global strategic development, and leadership. Notable events where he has spoken include Thinkers50, Women's Forum for the Economy and Society, Arab Luxury World, TEDx, World Knowledge Forum, The Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR), Strategy Summit, Global Leaders Summit, and PowerBrands Glam Las Vegas.
Academic
Roll delivers instruction in MBA, EMBA, and Executive Education courses at Nanyang Business School. Additionally, he serves as a guest lecturer at INSEAD, CEIBS, and ESSEC.
Bibliography
- Asian Brand Strategy: How Asia Builds Strong Brands (2006), Palgrave Macmillan UK
- Asian Brand Strategy (Revised and Updated): Building and Sustaining Strong Global Brands in Asia (2015), Palgrave Macmillan UK
- The Future of Branding – chapter titled Branding and Emerging Markets (2016), SAGE Publishing UK
Personal life
Holding Danish citizenship and permanent residency in Singapore, Roll divides his residence between Copenhagen and Singapore. He dedicates approximately 250 days each year to international travel for client consultations and keynote presentations.