Richard Hamilton

Principal, Hamilton Brand
(May '13 – present)

I provide branding and strategic communications consulting to select clients as well as writing articles for periodicals, sometimes under my own name, but largely for clients. These articles are published in trade journals representing telecoms, webscale, manufacturing, mining, ports and logistics, utilities, smart cities, education, healthcare, public safety and defense. I also write blog posts and other marketing materials. Additionally, I edit technical books and papers.

VP, Brand, Marketing Communications and Digital
Alcatel-Lucent 
 (Dec ‘06 – Mar ‘13)

Responsibilities: I directed corporate brand strategy and management, thought leadership, advertising, worldwide marketing communications and the social media and Internet groups for Alcatel-Lucent worldwide.

Highlights: Along with the Alcatel-Lucent brand, I also oversaw and managed the licensees of the Alcatel mobile phone and consumer electronics brands worldwide, as well as consulting on the branding of multiple products, joint ventures and technology start-up brand launches. I introduced and managed communication transformations, including company blogging, social media adoption and best practices for search engine optimization for our global digital presence. I was responsible for corporate messaging globally.

VP, Communications Workgroup Lead
Corporate Communications, Alcatel-Lucent
 (May ‘06 - Dec ‘06)

Responsibilities: I co-led the communication integration team for the Alcatel-Lucent merger (Dec 2006), one of the largest trans-Atlantic mergers to date. 

Highlights: The global team was responsible for the creation of a new corporate identity for Alcatel-Lucent (working closely with CEOs from Alcatel and Lucent), creation of a launch advertising campaign, creation of new web site, a new company intranet, as well as realizing synergies and designing processes for the corporate communications function worldwide. 

Senior Director, Global eMarketing
Global Marketing, Alcatel 
 (Jan ’04 - May ’06)

Responsibilities: I directed led the development of web-based tools for promotion of Alcatel offers globally; creation of infrastructure to support direct e-marketing, lead capture and promotion to CRM systems; creation of internal information and knowledge management processes and systems to support sales.

Highlights: The creation of global platforms for product and solution information, customer references and business cases requiring consensus across diverse business groups worldwide.

AVP, Marketing Communications
Carrier Networking Group, Alcatel
 (June ’00 - Dec ’03)

Responsibilities: Product branding, strategic messaging, campaign creation, sales communications and training, advertising, events and promotions for US$10 Billion product group. 

Highlights: Alcatel-Newbridge Re-Branding: Led product re-branding initiative during Alcatel acquisition of Newbridge Networks (May 2000). Played key role in determining Alcatel product and solution branding policy.

Internal Team Building and Community Awareness: Led team to re-brand Newbridge to Alcatel within Ottawa community. Achieved transfer of Newbridge goodwill to Alcatel and simultaneously created context for building employee acceptance of and enthusiasm for the acquisition. 

Director, Corporate Awareness
Newbridge Networks 
 (May ’97 - May ’00)

Responsibilities: Newbridge brand management, strategic messaging, product branding, global advertising and global promotions. 

Highlights: Corporate Rebranding: Led cross-functional team to develop and communicate new direction for company branding worldwide leading to successful acquisition by Alcatel.

Newbridge-Siemens Marketing Team: Directed joint branding and messages between companies. Working directly with Marketing VPs of Siemens and Newbridge, I directed global agency to create marketing and strategic messaging of alliance worldwide.

Promotion of CSI Standard: Directed intra-company team involving members from Siemens (Munich), Siemens (U.S.), 3Com and Newbridge for marketing launch and promotion of new networking standard.

Senior Writer, Marcom Specialist
Newbridge Networks 
 (Nov ’94 - May ’97)

Responsibilities: Communications prime for development of product collateral and promotions. I built the first Newbridge web site and launched it in May, 1995, building a new digital communications team working on web and other multimedia projects.

Copywriter, Editor and Communication Consultant
Nortext 
 (Jul ’90 - Nov ’94)

Responsibilities: Copywriting, communications consultant, project manager and managing editor. 

Highlights: Inuit Land Claim Communications: Developed and managed deployment of communications plan for Inuit land claim and Nunavut ratification vote through consultation with Inuit groups and representatives of territorial and federal government. 

Baffin Island Tourism Plan: Working with tourism committee for region developed and managed the delivery of communications including advertising and regional tour guide (200+ pages) using over 25 community-based authors, illustrators and photographers.

Managing editor of Canadian Housing/Habitation Canadienne, the national magazine for the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association. Managing Editor for Business Access, the national direct marketing magazine published by Canada Post.

Hamilton Brand offers writing and strategic communications services to its clients worldwide. As the principal of the company, I have over two decades in the communication and marketing field, first as a copywriter, then as a managing editor for several magazines and, later, as the head of branding, marketing communications and digital in several of the world's larger global technology companies.