That is Tom Sitati for you. … the mention of branding provokes a wide grin and a thoughtful pause before her breaks into animated discussion on what has become virtually an obsession for him. Such is his belief in brand strategy as a crucial tool of development that in 2006 he founded Brandscape Africa Foundation, a non profit brand strategy think tank that brings together experts from different disciplines to focus on brand strategy. Tom has published over 200 articles on brand strategy, having written for and contributed to numerous publications including The East African Standard, Business Daily, Sokoni, Marketing Africa, Management, ICT Village, Business in Africa and Business Mirror. He currently runs a regular column in Diageo Award Journalism Award winner, Business Daily, having previously pioneered a marketing column in the East African Standard. He has also had the opportunity to consult, give talks, present papers and facilitate at various workshops and forums including the Microsave CEOs’ Regional Workshop and the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) Business Summit.

Within the Kenyan marketing fraternity, Tom has actively serving on three Marketing Society of Kenya councils, having risen to the position of Chairman. As Chairman, he was instrumental in the establishment of society’s branches across the country, creation of linkages with marketing bodies in the region and the formation of the Brand Kenya Board. He remains an active member of the marketing fraternity.

Tom “sharpens his tools” by lecturing at the Marketing Society’s Practitioner’s course, is involved with Daystar University as a member of the Daystar University Marketing Students body’s advisory board and is an accredited coach with Enablis, an entrepreneurship development initiative.

In his life “before branding”, Tom Sitati earned an honours degree in Architecture from the University of Nairobi and a Diploma in Marketing. He is also a graduate of the world renowned Dale Carnegie leadership program. Tom is the author of “It’s a Branded World”, has published several e-books and is currently working on his second hard copy book, which will profile brands and how they have helped shape Kenya’s national brand over the years. He does all this while darting across the East African region as a Director and brand strategist at Interbrand Sampson East Africa, the regional office of the world’s foremost brand strategy consultancy, Interbrand.

“Brands are built or destroyed through brand experience”