Russ Klein

About Russ Klein

With over 30 years of c-suite marketing leadership and innovation experience, I am the President and Chief Operating Officer at PROOF Hard Ice Cream, a disruptive and fast-growing company that combines premium ice cream with distilled spirits. I am also the Principal at Whisper Strategy Consultancy, an angel investor, inventor-owner of multiple technology patents, and a management consulting group with expertise in various industries and domains. Previously, I was the CEO at The American Marketing Association, where I led a transformation of the world\'s foremost knowledge-based organization devoted to marketing, resulting in membership growth, record retention, all-time high impact scores for AMA Journal Portfolio, record alliances revenue, world-class work culture, and solid financial health. I have also led marketing teams and organizations through three verifiable business turnarounds for Dr Pepper/7UP Companies, Burger King Corporation, and Arby\'s Restaurant Group, generating record-setting returns for shareholders and creating iconic campaigns such as \"Whopper Freakout\" and \"Subservient Chicken\". I am an original thinker and creator of proprietary processes for design targeting, creative briefs, digital initiatives, social currency, and omni-channel media strategy. I have been named to top marketer lists spanning three decades, and I have been featured in several books and publications as a thought leader and influencer. I have also mentored and coached over 60 members of my teams who have gone on to the C-suite. My mission is to share my knowledge, insights, and passion for marketing with the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Experience

1. President and Chief Operating Officer

   Proof Hard Ice Cream

   Mar 2023 — Present · Columbus, OH, US

Education

• The Ohio State University

  B.S.B.A, Marketing

• Harvard Business School

  Advanced Management

• The Ohio State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Marketing