Amplifying Brands, Bolstering Growth
About
I am a business consultant, advisor, and speaker who has been on the speaking and executive training circuit for 27 years, who empowers my various audiences with research insights, new knowledge, and tools they can apply in their institutions and careers to achieve quantum leap results. In my industry life, I oversaw 40 multinational brands in an award-winning advertising agency and managed millions with brands like Microsoft, APC, Acer, Canon, Daewoo, Dark and Lovely, Carsons, LG, Lufthansa, Microsoft, Mercedes Benz, Peugeot, Symantec in that portfolio.
I have served on boards and committees of local and international entities and currently chair the board of marketing communications firm. I have co-authored and co-edited 33 books on topics like green business, sustainability, marketing, branding, customer service, the creative economy, entrepreneurship and sales.
I acted as marketing advisor to a bank IPO which is one of the most successful IPOs in the history of the Ghana Stock Exchange. I have won multiple presentation and best speaker awards. My areas of expertise are marketing, branding, sales, leadership and customer experience.
Marketing Career Highlights
- Ranked for 4 consecutive years, Africa’s number one Marketing Scholar by the AD Scientific Index (https://www.adscientificindex.com/institutional-subject-ranking/?con=Africa)
- In 2003, Robert received a Professional Marketer of the Year Nomination from the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana,
- Holds a BSc. MBA, DPhil in Marketing, a CIM UK Chartered Marketing Qualification and 2nd PhD in International Business
- Taught Marketing to Chartered Institute of Marketing students, BSc, MBA, MA, MSc. MPhil and PhD students in various institutions across Africa.
- Taught Marketing in Burkinabe, Ghanaian, and South African students.
- Spearheaded the development of a PhD in Marketing programme at the University of Ghana Business School, and supervised the first student to completion. This student is now a Full Professor in Marketing in the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Ghana Business School.
- Spearheaded the development of an MA in Marketing Strategy Programme
International Business Highlights
- Spearheaded the development of an MSc. International Business Degree Programme at the University of Ghana Business School, and served as its first Programme Coordinator
- Taught International Business at the University of Ghana Business School
- Taught International Business at the University of the Free State Business School
- Taught International Business at the Durban University of Technology
- Worked on a Kenya Market Study for the Kenya Export Promotion Council where we focussed on exposing Kenya businesses to opportunities in Ghana, identifying sectors that Kenya exporters can trade in with their Ghanaian counterparts, assessing the market potential for selected Kenyan Export crops and suggesting market penetration strategies for Kenyan businesses looking to enter Ghana.
Public Sector Practitioner, University Administrator, Board and Committee Highlights
- Ranked in the 5th in the list of Africa’s Top 100 Business & Management Scientists by the AD Scientific Index (https://www.adscientificindex.com/top-100-scientist/?tit=Business+%26+Management&con=Africa00 ) and Ghana’s number one Business Management Scholar
- Member – Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana Award Selection Committee (February 2004 – September 2004)
- Technical Advisor, Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Ministry for Private Sector Development; Government of Ghana (April 2004 – December 2004)
- Chair, Board of Telemedia Company Limited (April 2009 – to date)
- Head of Department – Department of Marketing and Customer Management, University of Ghana (2008 – 2012)
- Acting Head, Hilla Limann Hall- University of Ghana (2013 – 2016)
- Coordinator, MSc. International Business Degree Programme, University of Ghana (2017 – 2018)
- Head of Department – Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Ghana (2018 – 2021)
- Member – Sub Committee of the Board of the Coastal Development Authority (September 2019)
- Acting Director, Institutional Advancement – University of Ghana (November 2019 – August 2021)
- Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic – University of Kigali (September 2021 – March 2022)
- Interim Vice Chancellor – University of Kigali (January 2022 – February 2022)
- Pro Vice-Chancellor – Ghana Communication Technology University (May 2022 – April 2025)
Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Conference Facilitator, and Master of Ceremonies Highlights
- Promoting Africa’s Sports Talent Globally: Role of Sports Business” 4th Biennial Sports Expo – 2012
- Why the Muteness? Africa Speak, the World Listeneth” Warwick University Brand Africa Workshop – 2013
- The Future of Customer Experience and Customer-Centric Leadership in Africa – Customer Service Management in Africa Conference, Namibia Institute of Public Administration – 2015
- Personal branding (PB) – Launch of The Harold Pupkewtiz Graduate School of Business (HP-GSB) Alumni Association – 2015
- Creating Digital Ideas, Building Your Business – Social Media 360 Summit – 2017
- What Should a Battle-Ready Business School Look Like? – Launch of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Business School – 2022
- Creativity Thinking: Putting the Sizzle Back into Marketing – Inaugural African Marketing Confederation Conference
- Bold Moves, Big Impacts: Leveraging Tourism, Investments & Exports to Transform Communities and Industries – 26th Annual Zambia Institute of Marketing Conference and Awards Gala Dinner – 2023
- Expanding the success of Pan African Brands: The Role of Strategy and Technology – 2nd Annual African Marketing Confederation Conference – 2023
- Corporate Relations, Ghana Commercial Bank, 1998
- Customer Care Essentials, Oman Fofor, 2003
- Winning with Customer Service, Ecobank GH Ltd, 2004
- 1st Rate Service for a 1st Rate Bank, First Atlantic Bank, October 2012
- Excelling at Service Incredibly, Bank of Africa, October 2012
- Customer Experience for Marketplace Advantage, Cosmopolitan Health, 2024
Customer Experience (CX) Strategy Formulation and Trainer Highlights
May 2009 – August 2009
Standard Chartered Bank
Assisted in the conceptualization and execution of a service behaviour change campaign for Standard Chartered Bank, Ghana. Trained every member of staff on new service behaviours for the bank.
2018 and 2019
Petra Trust Company Limited
We undertook a customer satisfaction study to assess client satisfaction levels subject to agreed service levels and assess client loyalty and the strength of client’s relationship with Petra through the Relationship Manager or Officer.
2020
OmniBSIC Bank Mystery Shopper and Customer Satisfaction Study
We undertook a customer satisfaction study to assist the bank to develop a Customer Experience Policy and to position the bank to deliver superior service. We identified service gaps and proposed solutions for addressing them.
Brand Communications Highlights
1998 – 2023
Robert superintended the devising of advertising solutions for Government Institutions & NGO, and Local and International brands. Government Institutions & NGO brands include Ghana Telecom (now Telecel), Distance Learning Centre (GIMPA), GSMF International and Young and Wise (HIV/AIDS Programme targeted at Ghanaian Youth about sexual choices). Local Brands Robert has worked with include Aganzi Condoms, Champion Condoms, Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana Awards, Enterprise Life Assurance Company Limited, Fidelity Group, First Atlantic Money Transfer, Golden Beach Hotels, HFC Bank, HOP (Roaming Service from Spacefon), KBA Financial Services, Ridge Church School. Some International brands Robert has worked with include APC, Acer, Canon, Daewoo, Dark and Lovely, Carsons, Golden Tulip, LG, Lufthansa, Microsoft, Mercedes Benz, Peugeot, Symantec, Steers, and Standard Chartered Bank.
August 2004 – January 2005
Communications Expert, DANIDA Sponsored Development of Business Practice Codes
Robert worked as an associate consultant to PriceWaterhouseCoopers on the development of codes of good business practice for private and public sector enterprises in Ghana. Robert consulted as the project’s communications expert and assisted in drafting the communications strategy once an appropriate framework for the introduction, dissemination and enforcement of the codes had been designed. Stakeholder audiences for the communications included the association of Ghanaian Industries, the public sector (ministries, departments and agencies), locally owned enterprises, MNCs, civil society organizations and pressure groups.
October 2004 – January 2005
Cal Bank Brand Re-launch, Communications Advisor, Cal Bank IPO
Robert worked as Marketing Communications Advisor to Cal Bank, a bank that eventually got listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. There was an over subscription of shares by over 400% making it the most successful IPO in Ghana to date. Communication assignment was peculiar however because the Cal Bank brand had to be re-launched prior to share offer. Re-launch tools included a change of name from Cal Merchant Bank to Cal Bank, a multi-media advertising campaign; a press launch to announce name change, a PR campaign and a direct marketing campaign to key CAL stakeholders.
April 2006 – August 2006
HFC Bank (Now Republic Bank)
Robert advised on the change of the corporate pay-offline of HFC Bank and on new elements of a proposed master brand communications campaign for HFC Bank. Advised on the crafting of a corporate identity manual/brand book for HFC Bank to serve as a guide to all brand communications for HFC Bank. Held a brand management Seminar for senior management of HFC Bank.
June 2017 – June 2020
University of Ghana Rebranding and Marketing Team
Chaired a University of Ghana Rebranding and Marketing Team to spearhead the development of a marketing and communications policy, as well as brand manual for the University. We also held brand sensitization workshops to educate University of Ghana on how to live the University of Ghana brand.
Book Author and Editor Highlights
Robert has co-authored and co-edited books across various fields including Customer Service, Health Service Management, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration and Responsible Management, Sales and Business Marketing, Creative Economy and Tourism, Sustainability Management and Green Economy, Higher Education Marketing and Management, Marketing Communications and Brand Management, Ethics and New Public Management, and Digital and Social Media Management.
Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Highlights
- Member, Board of Trustees – CSR Foundation Ghana (July 2011)
- Keynote Speaker on Anchoring Brands on ESG – Zimbabwe Superbrands Conference (December 2023)
Looking Forward
“I am a pracademic (practitioner-scholar) who values institutional and business growth in Africa. I strive to bridge the academic and practice worlds by bringing marketing and management knowledge to public and private sector institutions to build their capacity and assist them to contribute profoundly to Africa’s growth”.
Please contact me on +233 541 511 515
or email at robert@robertebohinson.com
