Brown & Company helps organizations incubate and develop new products, and improve team innovation skills. We act as in-house product development advisers to organizations and we offer workshops for those involved in the product development process. Our approach is based on extensive research but emphasizes practical application and experience. We work with various experts around the world to fill particular needs.

Ronald Brown, Principal

Ron is a successful startup CEO with an extensive background in technology and consumer marketing, and business development. He started his career at Nestle, and then moved to international ad agencies J. Walter Thompson and BBDO. At JWT, Ron managed the HP computers and printers businesses. As VP Corporate Marketing at Wyse Technology, he gained global channels, distribution and corporate marketing experience. As president of eFax.com, he built one of the fastest growing consumer internet sites. Ron holds patent applications related to consumer electronics devices, is an author of a book on team and product innovation, and speaks at industry events.

Ron’s experience can be grouped into four core areas related to product innovation consulting:

1. History of leading cross-functional teams related to producing successful products in multiple geographies and channels; in-depth knowledge of industry research and repeatable processes

2. Creative thinker; eight years in top ad agencies where commercializing new ideas, branding, and effective messaging are mandatory requirements for success

3. Ten years consumer packaged goods (CPG) marketing experience; familiar with proven strategic approaches and processes designed to understand and exploit customer needs, comfortable with analytical and market research techniques to support those strategies

4. Entrepreneurial; CEO of startups, strong problem-solving skills, ability to deal with fluid and fast-changing environments, hands-on understanding of startup organizational dynamics, problem solving, and digital marketing strategies

Ron is a regular contributor to Mashable.com.

Ron is teaching a new course about product and team innovation at U.C. Berkeley Extension.