Eastern Illinois University

Founding Partner at BrandingBusiness

FCD O.C. (Forum for Corporate Directors, Orange County)

Board Member

Board Chair, Orange County Gold Chapter

A founding partner of BrandingBusiness, Ryan Rieches is a respected B2B branding authority who has created transformational business, brand, and communications strategies for some of the nation’s leading companies. Previously, he was the CEO and co-founder of RiechesBaird, one of the nation’s foremost B2B brand strategy firms.

Ryan brings proven methodologies—and an inspired, thoughtful, creative mind—to each project. As lead brand strategist, he worked with executives and marketing management to help Toyota Industrial Equipment become the number-one-selling brand of lift trucks in America. During the merger of Georgia Gulf and a division of PPG, he led the process of defining the new corporate vision, name, and brand for the publicly held company---Axiall. The work was well received by its employees, partners and by Wall Street. And for Children’s National Health System, Ryan and his team utilized extensive research and creativity to form a new brand promise, name, and image that resonated with target audiences and revitalized the 135-year-old leader in pediatric health.

Under Ryan’s leadership, RiechesBaird received international recognition for its brand strategy work and was perennially ranked among the nation's top B2B firms by B-to-B Magazine.

An astute thought leader, Ryan is frequently tapped by companies, conference organizers and business schools at top universities to speak about corporate branding and business building. He also co-hosts a podcast interview series with marketers and other B2B experts.

Ryan grew up outside Chicago and received a degree in Visual Communications from Eastern Illinois University. He moved to Southern California in the 1980s and opened an advertising design studio. In 1994, he and Ray Baird partnered to form RiechesBaird.

Ryan serves on the board of the Forum for Corporate Directors and YPO Gold Orange County (Young Presidents Organization).