Richard Sharp

Professional Background

Richard Sharp is a seasoned marketing leader, writer, and entrepreneur bringing over 20 years of dynamic experience in the marketing field. He has a passion for fostering creativity and innovation, believing in the power of ideas and words to create action and excitement. With a robust track record of building high-performing marketing functions from the ground up, Richard has made significant contributions to several fast-growing SaaS (Software as a Service) companies and venture-backed startups. His expertise lies in leading global marketing and communications functions, where he directs growth efforts that often culminate in impactful exit events, major funding rounds, and periods of record growth.

Richard most recently served as the global chief marketing officer (CMO) of SimpliField, a retail technology company headquartered in Paris. In this role, he successfully led a comprehensive overhaul of the company's strategic messaging, branding, and website. Under his leadership, he built a results-oriented team that created a content-driven demand generation engine, propelling record growth in sales and marketing-sourced pipeline globally, even amidst the challenges posed by a global pandemic. This experience underscored Richard's ability to adapt and innovate in fast-paced and ever-changing environments.

Before his role at SimpliField, Richard was the vice president of marketing for Emissary.io, a sales intelligence marketplace backed by Google Ventures. During his tenure, he spearheaded the hiring of a new, high-performing marketing team and initiated a complete overhaul of the brand and website. He also led the launch of a new technology platform and the installation of new marketing automation systems, driving aggressive demand generation programs. These efforts resulted in a remarkable 300% increase in client logos, significant revenue growth, and a doubling of the network size— a testament to his strategic vision and execution capabilities.

Richard's illustrious career also includes serving as vice president of marketing at Networked Insights, an AI startup acquired by American Family, and as the head of product and customer marketing at Contently. At Contently, he was instrumental in its recognition as the #100th fastest-growing private company in America by Inc. Magazine and honored as 2015's Best Content Marketing Platform by Digiday, alongside being featured as one of Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC. His leadership has been consistent across various organizations, including KnowledgeAdvisors, which was acquired by CEB, and International Survey Research, which was acquired by Willis Towers Watson.

Education and Achievements

Richard's educational foundation is rooted in the study of English at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he honed his analytical thinking and communication skills, vital for successful marketing leadership.

Over the years, Richard has built a diverse portfolio of leadership roles in marketing across multiple organizations. His experience spans private companies where he has held various marketing leadership positions, including:

• CMO at Boombox Studios
• Formerly CMO at SimpliField
• Formerly Interim CMO, Strategic Marketing Advisor (Self-Employed)
• Formerly VP of Marketing at Emissary.io
• Formerly VP of Marketing at audience.ai (Networked Insights)
• Formerly Head of Product and Customer Marketing at Contently
• Formerly Head of Marketing at KnowledgeAdvisors (CEB)
• Formerly Founder and CEO at The Sharp Agency Inc.
• Formerly Global Marketing Director at International Survey Research (Willis Towers Watson)

Richard's commitment to building and leading effective teams has contributed immensely to the success stories of the organizations he has worked with. His expertise in strategy and execution has facilitated transformational growth and advancement in competitive markets.

Achievements

Throughout his career, Richard has achieved numerous accolades, most notably:

• Significant Growth in Revenue and Client Acquisition: At Emissary.io, Richard's strategic initiatives resulted in an impressive 300% increase in client logos and a double in network size over 18 months.
• Success in Brand Overhaul and Market Positioning: His visionary leadership at SimpliField led to a complete branding and strategic messaging overhaul that drove pre-pandemic record growth.
• Award-Winning Marketing Platform: While at Contently, Richard played a crucial role in the company gaining recognition as one of the top content marketing platforms, making a significant mark in the industry.
• Contribution to Valuable Exits: Many organizations he has been involved with have achieved notable exits, reflective of his capabilities in driving growth and market relevance.

Richard Sharp embodies the essence of innovation-driven marketing leadership, seamlessly merging creativity with strategic insights.

Tags

Marketing Leader Entrepreneur SaaS Marketing Global Marketing Communications Functions Demand Generation Brand Development Content Strategy Growth Marketing Mentorship Team Building Strategic Messaging Marketing Automation Sales Intelligence AI Marketing Fast-Growing Startups Digital Marketing Product Marketing High-Performing Teams Marketing Strategy