Tom Hartje

Tom’s formative years were in Chicago as DDB Worldwide’s first ad agency supervisor for McDonald’s International. As Sr. VP Europe, he opened DDB operations in London, Spain & led DDB’s development in Asia, based in Hong Kong as Managing Director, Asia–where he also led their China entry. Recruited to turn around Leo Burnett’s flagship Hong Kong agency, Hartje restored it to the largest ad agency operation in S.E. Asia. As Exec. VP/Managing Director for Greater China, he led Burnett’s entry into China & launched Brand Identity, PR & Digital Media subsidiaries. Hartje left Burnett to form his own marketing consulting firm focused on helping Fortune 100 companies expand in Asia Pacific. He transitioned to Internet consulting, joining Scient in San Francisco as Managing Director, Corp. Dev./Global Partnerships & later as Managing Director, International. He subsequently founded the China Business Development Group–with offices in San Francisco & Shanghai–focused on helping companies establish & expand in Asia.

Tom holds a MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management & a BA degree from the Univ. of Iowa where he majored in Mass Communications/Journalism & Psychology. Tom grew up on an Iowa farm & lives near San Francisco in Marin County, California.