James Rutherford - Vice President, Strategy, Independent Contractor

Feedback from James’s ex-colleagues

Let me see

Keep in touch with meI'm using Intch to connect with new people. Use this link to open chat with me via Intch app

Work Background

RAPPVice President, Experience Strategy | CX, Digital Strategy, CRM, Integrated Campaigns

Jan. 2020 - Dec. 2023Greater Chicago AreaManaged a team of strategists and customer experience analysts through the creation of a comprehensive experience strategy framework for US Army Recruiting. Leveraged primary and secondary research to map customer journeys and identify conversion bottlenecks. Directed the development of a transformative digital product strategy and roadmap, including marketing operations and system integrations. • Identified key data gaps and drove the integration of Contact Center (CC) CRM platform with full recruiting ecosystem, expanding the role of the CC within the customer journey and conversion process. Result: 20% increase in enlistment contracts in <6 months. • Integrated key data elements from recruiters’ CRM platform to design and launch a suite of email marketing campaigns segmenting audience by journey stage and recruiting status. Performance Impact: 21% increase in conversion rate within 4-6 months. • Designed and tested a lead-scoring / prioritization system which successfully identified leads 4-6x more likely to convert. Led the integration of multiple platforms to deploy across all online lead capture sources. Performance Impact: 260% increase in scored leads in <3 months. • Directed the UI design, build and deployment of an online appointment scheduling tool to streamline the conversion process. Result: 5% increase in appointments in 3 months. • Developed audience and experience strategy for media campaign targeting existing lead pipeline with personalized messaging. Designed data flows to deliver anonymized lead data to media planners. Performance Impact: 19% lift in conversion rate compared to control group.

Rise InteractiveDirector of Account Management | Digital Marketing, Analytics, CRM, Paid Search

Jan. 2015 - Dec. 2019Greater Chicago AreaProgressed through multiple roles from Marketing Analytics to Account Management. Led client engagements on customer experience, channel strategies and activations, conversion rate optimization, and digital transformation. • Led analytics and channel teams through quantitative CRM analyses, primary research, and stakeholder interviews to identify and profile key buyer segments and their customer journeys (Assisted Living client). Designed and executed digital marketing strategies for each. • Redesigned paid search strategy for a B2C healthcare provider network, resulting in a 10% increase in revenue. Integrated Search Ads 360 data with internal customer data to shift optimization target from CPL to actual financial results. • Partnered with Innovation Team to deliver 10+ million personalized emails per month. Program generated more than 7.5% incremental revenue for multi-channel retailers. • Launched Agency’s Marketing Automation practice supporting B2B and B2C clients. Audited and designed programs across various platforms, including SF Marketing Cloud, Pardot, Marketo, etc.

Empire TodayStrategy Consultant | New Venture Strategy and Execution, Marketing Automation, MarTech Integrations

Jan. 2010 - Dec. 2015Greater Chicago AreaContracted by CIO and the SVP, Commercial Sales to consult on a variety of strategic initiatives. • Managed cross-functional project team through strategic integration of SF Marketing Cloud with existing CRM. Designed initial segmentation methodology to optimize email messaging. Generated 400% ROI in first six months of campaign. • Led a team consisting of Merchandising, Operations, and IT to develop new retail store strategy. Conducted detailed analysis of the competitive landscape and created a detailed go-to-market strategy, including in-store experience, product assortments and target geographic markets. Opened first store in VA in 2015. • Led the development of the operational plan to support the company’s participation in the US Communities Government Purchasing Alliance. This contract allowed more than 90,000 state, local and municipal agencies, as well as non-profit organizations, schools and special districts, to access Empire’s flooring solutions at previously bid pricing.

ForresterAccount Executive

Jan. 2008 - Dec. 2009Greater Chicago AreaJupiter Research acquired by Forrester.

comScoreDirector, Marketing Solutions | Business Development, Web Behavioral Data, eCommerce

Jan. 2004 - Dec. 2007Chicago• Designed, sold, and executed a variety of market research projects leveraging web and E-Commerce performance data. Recommended strategic improvements in the areas of marketing, merchandising, product development, etc. • Integrated behavioral data with targeted survey research to quantify impacts of customers cross-shopping at competitors’ sites and to understand root-causes of those customers choosing other sites from which to purchase.

Sears GrandDirector of Operations | New Business Strategy and Operations, Retail

Jan. 2003 - Dec. 2004Greater Chicago Area• Member of Leadership Team who translated initial strategy for a new, 225k square foot store concept into a Pilot program of two stores in UT and IL. Store added multiple categories new to Sears, with the intent of competing with Target and Walmart. • Designed and launched new operating model to leverage Sears’ existing strengths as well as to introduce new capabilities to manage a multitude of new merchandise categories, technical requirements, and employee training. Hired, trained and managed a store organization of more than 350 individuals.

Ember CorporationProduct Strategy Consultant | Product Management, Roadmaps

Jan. 2002 - Dec. 2003Provided guidance on Product and Go-To-Market strategies for early stage, venture-backed technology company seeking to commercialize MIT PhD Thesis work on proprietary mesh networking algorithms. • Research and discovery led to the 2003 announcement of a partnership with Oslo-based Chipcon to develop low-cost, low-power radios for Embedded Wireless Networking.

VideoShareVice President, Marketing and Product Management

Jan. 2000 - Dec. 2002Venture backed startup to commercialize an MIT PhD thesis centered around streaming video solutions. Tested multiple business models, including video advertising and OEM hardware (digital camera) partnerships. • Partnered with multiple portals to provide digital video-hosting and production tools to portal users. • Secured design wins with Digital Video Camera OEMs to offer branded hosting and sharing tools to professional and amateur content creators.

BobVila.comHead of Strategy and Operations

Jan. 2000 - Dec. 2000Greater Boston AreaAppointed to leadership team of joint venture between Sears and Bob Vila. As strategic and operational leader, developed a go-to-market strategy focused on linking homeowners and contractors, using proprietary online project management tools as well as eCommerce functionality leveraging Sears' Home Improvement brands.

SearsProject Director

Jan. 1996 - Dec. 2000* Business Lead overseeing online launch of Lawn & Garden category. Responsible for merchandising, site functionality, digital marketing and PR. Developed in-store and back-end processes to support capabilities new to sears.com, including in-store pickup and an expanded product attribute database. * Financial and Strategic analysis for M&A, including due diligence and post-acquisition integration. * Financial planning and analysis for new business ventures. Pro-forma modeling at the store, market, and national levels. Modeled the maturity value of Sears Hometown Dealer Stores. Identified that growth potential was less than 20% of expectations, leading to a strategic re-evaluation of the business and a focus on testing new store concepts. Awarded a Chairman’s Award for Excellence for this effort