Vancouver, BC Canada
CHRISTOPHER ROUSE
Passionate Marketing Leader for Emerging B2B and SaaS Companies
My experience as a marketing leader spans product management, product marketing, branding, channel development, marketing communications, field marketing, media and analyst relations, and sales strategy. I have been responsible for forecasting, planning, modelling, and managing marketing plans spanning the entire customer journey.
ABOUT
Christopher Rouse is a seasoned marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in marketing and product management in a variety of technology-related companies. Most recently, Mr. Rouse helped lead Symmetrics Business Intelligence to an acquisition by Calabrio Inc. and KKR, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. Prior to Symmetrics, Mr. Rouse was Vice-President of Marketing for Delano Technology Corporation, a customer relationship management software company, where he managed a $13 million marketing strategy encompassing leads management, advertising, public relations, and marketing communications. Prior to Delano, Mr. Rouse was Vice-President, Marketing for InfoCast Corporation, a pioneer in software-as-a-service (SaaS) for contact centers. As Director of Field Marketing for Hummingbird Communications, one of Canada's most successful software companies, he was responsible for lead generation, worldwide sales strategy training, product training, competitive intelligence, account consulting, and incorporating new technologies from corporate acquisitions into the sales portfolio. He has published articles worldwide in Data Management Review, Enterprise Middleware, Insight, and Sybase Server Journal UK. He holds a BA and an MBA from Queens University, and has been a guest lecturer on sales strategy for the Queen's MBA for Science and Technology.
MY EXPERIENCE
Background & Expertise
VICE-PRESIDENT, MARKETING & PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
SYMMETRICS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
November 2009 - April 2018
Responsible for all aspects of marketing and product management for enterprise reporting software company with customers worldwide, many in the Fortune 500. Brought aboard just after the collapse of major distributor/reseller (Nortel), led the successful re-positioning of company and products for recovery and expansion; company became product of choice for world's largest contact center manufacturer (Avaya) and its largest North American resellers. Company acquired in April, 2017 by Calabrio Inc. and KKR, one of the world's largest private equity firms.
PARTNER & DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
THE PET AMERICA COMPANY
2004-2009
Oversaw sales, marketing and operations for California-based electronic pet fencing company with over 30 employees. Increased sales close rates by 25%, and average contract values by over 30%. Trained and coached staff on in-home sales techniques, and inside staff on lead qualification and up-selling. Supervised field technical personnel throughout the state; achieved highest customer satisfaction rating on customer surveys.
PRINCIPAL
ROUSE DEMAND MANAGEMENT
2001-2004
Provided strategic and hands-on marketing services to entrepreneurial companies in high technology, advertising, and online retail such as Rugman.com, Gobigmedia.com, Padulo Integrated, HYWY Software, and ServiceSwitch. Services range from authoring business plans for investors through to branding and launch of companies and products. Guest lecturer on sales strategy for Queen’s University MBA for Science and Technology.
VICE-PRESIDENT, MARKETING
DELANO TECHNOLOGY
1999-2001
Responsible for $13 million marketing strategy for public software company encompassing leads management, advertising, public relations, and marketing communications. Doubled the number of qualified sales leads in first quarter on the job. During tenure, company won the InfoWorld Technology of the Year Business Impact Award, and was selected by eCompany Now and the META Group as a market leader in CRM. Managed department of 23.
VICE-PRESIDENT, MARKETING
INFOCAST CORPORATION
1998-1999
Responsible for all aspects of marketing for start-up company offering virtual call center systems. Wrote business plan for $25 million round of financing, and drove corporate positioning and branding to accelerate entry into emerging technology category. Retained and managed “Top 5” advertising agency and PR firm. Negotiated joint marketing agreements with strategic partners, and created all necessary collateral to support direct sales force and distribution channels. Drove new business-to-business Web strategy and redesign.
DIRECTOR, FIELD MARKETING
HUMMINGBIRD COMMUNICATIONS
1997-1998
Responsible for worldwide sales support — sales strategy training, product training, competitive intelligence, account consulting, as well as incorporating new technologies from acquisitions into sales portfolio. Built an account-based support strategy to help salespeople prospect, qualify, and close sales faster, contributing to 100 percent product sales growth over same period. Responsible for analyst/press relations and public speaking engagements. Managed team of five.
PRODUCT MANAGER
ANDYNE COMPUTING
1996-1997
Developed marketing program and launch plan for new line of products. Worked with developers to fashion new server-based business intelligence architecture with fully integrated Web services. Responsibilities included branding, positioning, sales collateral, press and analyst communications, pricing, and managing strategic beta testing program.
EDUCATION
1998
MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
1995