Steve Rutherford
About Steve Rutherford
Steve Rutherford is a Senior Strategist at CMD in the Portland, Oregon Area with over 20 years of experience in strategic marketing.
Current Position at CMD
Steve Rutherford is currently a Senior Strategist at CMD, located in the Portland, Oregon Area. His role involves developing comprehensive consumer and brand strategies that move beyond conventional marketing approaches. He leverages data, research, strategic thinking, and his extensive experience to drive innovative marketing solutions.
Previous Roles at Contravent and R2C Group
Before joining CMD, Steve Rutherford worked at Contravent as Managing Director and Strategist - Contravent NW in the Greater Salt Lake City Area from 2015 to 2017. Prior to Contravent, he served as Director of Business Development at R2C Group in Portland, Oregon Area from 2013 to 2015. These roles contributed to his expertise in strategic marketing and business development.
Educational Background
Steve Rutherford graduated from the University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business with a BS in Marketing, having studied there from 1988 to 1994. His academic background laid the foundation for his extensive career in strategic marketing, focusing on consumer and brand experiences.
Early Career and Long-Term Roles
Steve Rutherford's early career included roles such as a Marketing Strategist at MarketStar for 7 months and as a Photographer at Back Alley Studio for 5 years in the Portland, Oregon Area. Notably, he spent a significant portion of his career at McCann Worldgroup where he served as Group Strategic Director from 2000 to 2009, and later as Director Strategy from 2010 to 2012.
Marketing Philosophy and Approach
Steve Rutherford believes in moving beyond expected norms in brand marketing by leveraging data, research, and strategic thinking. He emphasizes the importance of truthful and ownable brand representation over generic marketing-speak and strives to blend the science of strategy with the art of storytelling. His focus is on creating effective creative platforms that lead to impactful consumer and brand experiences.