Russ Klein

CEO, The American Marketing Association

Chicago

Klein has quarterbacked teams for many of the world’s foremost brand names—holding top marketing and advertising posts at Dr Pepper/7UP Companies, Gatorade, 7-Eleven Corporation, Burger King Corporation, and Arby’s Restaurant Group.

His Burger King body of work that was recognized by ADWEEK as "The Advertiser of the Decade" for the 2000’s…a distinction belonging to Nike and Budweiser in previous decades. Klein was again recognized as a seminal influence behind Burger King’s recognition at this year’s Cannes ad festival as Creative Marketer of the Year in 2017; referencing a few of his most popular campaigns including:

Burger King’s groundbreaking digital campaign, "Subservient Chicken" ranked as the 6th greatest campaign of 21st Century by Ad Age and Digital Ad of the Decade by the Wall Street Journal

Klein was responsible for "Whopper Freakout" the highest recalled advertising campaign ever measured by Nielsen’s IAG Research among all advertisers

As CEO for the American Marketing Association, Russ is charged with the transformation of the AMA to become an essential community for marketers.

Klein was once nicknamed "Flamethrower" by an industry publication for his managerial risk-taking and provocative advertising; but he now aspires to be the torch bearer for all marketers.