Russell Findlay (businessman)
J. Russell Findlay | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 4, 1965 United States |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist, marketing leader |
| Known for | Global Chief Marketing Officer at Hiscox; inaugural CMO of Major League Soccer |
J. Russell Findlay (born May 4, 1965) is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and marketing leader. Since April 2023, he has held the position of global chief marketing officer at Hiscox, a worldwide specialist insurance provider. In addition, he owns a small business and acts as managing director for a non-profit entity.
Career
Findlay currently serves as Hiscox's global chief marketing officer and holds the distinction of being the inaugural chief marketing officer in the history of Major League Soccer. Before his tenure at MLS, he was part of PepsiCo's team during the leadership of chairmen Roger Enrico, Steven Reinemund, and Indra Nooyi, working closely with advertising icon Alan Pottasch. His contributions at PepsiCo included launching products such as the SoBe Mr. Green beverage, both Sierra Mist and Sierra Mist Free variants, along with Pepsi Max. He also created a memorable television advertisement that brought soccer legends Freddy Adu and Pelé together on screen for the first time.
Findlay secured an integrated marketing partnership with ABC for the game show Duel. His career began at Unilever as a territory sales representative before advancing into roles focused on new business development and brand marketing at Lever House.
Memberships and associations
- Board member of the Association of National Advertisers
- Board member of the Business Marketing Association of New York
- Chairperson of the Sponsorship and Events Committee at the Association of National Advertisers
- Member of the National Advertising Review Board under the Advertising Self-Regulatory Council
Honors and awards
His accolades include two Effie Awards recognizing advertising effectiveness, several Financial Communication Society honors such as Best in Show and a Global Ace award, the CMO Club Growth Award, and recognition as ANA's B2B Marketer of the Year. In 2014, he was acknowledged among the 30 most influential marketers worldwide. Additionally, he has served as a final judge for competitions including the Effie Awards, ANA's B2 awards, BMA Global Ace Awards, and FCS Portfolio Awards.
In 2019, Findlay was honored with the FCS Jamie DePeau Leadership Award by the Financial Communications Society, celebrating his outstanding leadership and impact in financial services marketing.
Publications and teaching
Findlay has contributed to and appeared in numerous business media outlets:
Books:
- Nick Johnson’s The Future of Marketing
- Target2000
Video:
- The Association of National Advertisers’ Advertising Education Foundation CMO series
Podcasts:
- "In Financial Services, Storytelling is more important than ever", featured on CMO.com
Print:
- Blake Morgan’s article "Customer Experience Transformation: One CMO's Powerful Story" in Forbes
- Articles "7 Simple Steps to Expanding Overseas" and "Uber's Name May Be Too Tarnished to Keep. Here's Why" published in Inc.
- Kate Maddox’s piece "ANA/BMA16: A Business Insurance Company Embraces Risk" in Adage
- Features "In Its New Ad Campaign, Small-Business Insurer Hiscox Asks if America Has 'Lost Its Courage'" and "Young CEOs Open Up About Their Failures" in Adweek
- Coverage including "Hiscox Takes a Risk With Revamped Insurance Branding", "VIEW FROM THE TOP", and "Hiscox Debuts Barcode Campaign to Target Small Businesses" in Chief Marketer
- Contributions to B-to-B Marketer, Winter 2016 edition
- Publications in Quality Financial Media
- Interviews titled "Encourage Courage: 5 Questions With Hiscox CMO Russ Findlay" and "If IWD Had a Hammer: 5 Questions With Hiscox CMO Russ Findlay" in Brandchannel
- Articles in Carrier Management
He regularly delivers lectures at prestigious business institutions such as Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, Columbia Business School, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington’s Kelley School of Business, SUNY Oswego, and Skidmore College. He is also a frequent speaker at conferences within the marketing and advertising sectors.
Education
Findlay obtained his bachelor's degree in marketing from SUNY Oswego, where he currently contributes as a member of the School of Business advisory board. He further advanced his education by completing an MBA specializing in marketing and advertising at Xavier University, along with earning a certificate in Financial Technology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Personal
Findlay is connected to prominent figures in advertising and media, such as New York Post editor Joseph Cookman and Ladies Home Journal editor Mary Bass. He heads the Findlay Family Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to awarding college scholarships to students hailing from disadvantaged school districts. Moreover, he serves as a referee for US Soccer.