We create greater intimacy between people, brands and technology.
PROJECTS
CONTACT
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JOHN DIEFENBACH
Passion:
The dynamic between people and their brands, especially when national culture is part of the equationCareer:
Chairman, MBLM (since ’06); Partner, TrueBrand (’01-’05); Partner, Wolff Olins (’99-’01); CEO/Founder, Diefenbach Elkins/FutureBrand (’91-’98); CEO, Landor Associates (’73-’89)Education:
Franklin & Marshall CollegeLanguages:
English and basic ItalianClients:
Crane & Co., FXI, Airbus, NWA, Lufthansa, MasterCard, World Gold Council, Telecom Italia, South African Airways, Banco Santander, Bank of Montreal, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kodak, Eg3, Air Canada, Safeway, Del Monte, Hyatt, Saturn, JAL, Disney, Coca Cola, Shell, Mercedes Benz, elf, British Airways, ARCO, WWF, Nobel Prize Foundation
CLAUDE SALZBERGER
Passion:
Translating brand strategies into memorable brand experiencesCareer:
Founding Partner, MBLM (since ’04); President, FutureBrand ('98-'04); Founding Partner, Diefenbach-Elkins ('91-'98); VP/Creative Director, Landor Associates ('79-'91)Education:
Bachelor of Architecture, Cornell University, (‘75)Languages:
English, Spanish, French and ItalianClients:
LAN, Crane & Co., Comex Group, Mexichem, Carvajal, Endeavor, Avianca, FXI, Farmahorro, Tecnoquímicas, Air Canada, Banco Mercantil, Sansouci, CAFAM, Endeavor, México Tourism Board, UPS, Iberia, Microsoft, Telefónica, Saudi Aramco, GM, South African Airways, Banco Santander, Kodak, State Street, Eg3, Northwest, elf, British Airways, ARCO, Messe Frankfurt
EDUARDO CALDERON
Passion:
Creating and sharing memorable experiences with clients, partners, and colleaguesCareer:
Founding Partner, MBLM (since ‘04); President and Founding Partner, Design Associates (‘78 - ’04); Senior Designer, Pedro Ramírez Vázquez (‘77 - ’78); Founding Partner, Digrama (’74 - ’77)Education:
Industrial Design, Universidad Iberoamericana ('75)Languages:
English and SpanishClients:
Mexichem, Comex Group, Mexico Tourism Board, Unilever, GEO, Pfizer, AeroMexico, GNP, Ibarra, Quaker Oats/Gamesa, Cervecería Cuauhtémoc, Kimberly Clark (Huggies, Kotex, Pétalo), Bimbo, Imevisión
GABRIELA PULIDO
Passion:
Achieving a compelling connection between people and brands with an enthusiastic and creative team ready to make a differenceBackground:
Founding Partner, MBLM (since ‘05); Founding Partner, BrandSpin ('03-'05); Director, FutureBrand ('01-'03); Manager, Arthur D. Little ('93-'00)Education:
Industrial Engineering, Columbia University, SEAS ('92), Master in Business Administration, IESA ('97)Languages:
English and SpanishClients:
Empresas Polar, Carvajal, Schick, Tecnoquímicas, Farmahorro, Colombina, Nestlé, Cantv, Sansouci, CAFAM, Plumrose, Cemex, Mercantil, Puntacana Resort & Club, Cenco-Zotti, Cadena Capriles, Norma, Eurogru, Pharsana, Grupo Mistral, Sanofi-Aventis, Fundación Eugenio Mendoza, Hospital Ortopédico Infantil, Centro Médico Docente La Trinidad, Visibility, Alcaldía Sucre, Alcaldía Chacao, Voluntad Popular
MARIO NATARELLI
Passion:
Breakthroughs and spectaclesCareer:
Managing Partner MBLM (since ’11); CEO, FutureBrand North America & Middle East ('08-'10); Managing Partner, FutureBrand Hypermedia ('98-'08); Founding Partner, HyperMedia Solutions('94-'98); Practicing Architect ('91-94)Education:
Bachelor of Architecture, University of Toronto ('91)Languages:
EnglishClients:
Terra-Lycos, GM, HP, Intel, Marriott, Stanford Hospital, J&J, UPS, Emaar, Bank of America, Dubai World, Arcapita, European Tour, Leisurecorp, Saudi Aramco, Mexico Tourism, Puntacana Resort & Club, Everence
WILLIAM SHINTANI
Passion:
Innovation through entrepreneurship and designCareer:
Managing Partner, (since ‘10); Executive Director, FutureBrand Dubai (’06-’10); Managing Director, FutureBrand Mexico (’01-05); Founder, Omninet (’94-’99); CEO, Teknoland Mexico (’99-’01)Education:
Business Administration, Universidad de las Americas (’95)Languages:
English, Spanish and PortugueseClients:
Kellogg's Latin America, Pfzier, Renault, Bimbo, Virgin, Bayer, GE Capital, Mexican Tourism Board, Cemex, Santandar, Comex, Telefonica, Metlife, Fonatur, Arcapita, Bahrain Bay, Batelco, Qatar 2022 World Cup Bidding Nation mark, AFC Championship 2011, Emaar, SmartCity, Qatar Tourism Board, ADNEC, Bahrain Airport Company, Tanqia, Khalifa University
AMY CLAUSI
Passion:
Develop and support a sustainable, value driven and efficient businessCareer:
CFO, MBLM (since ’10); Director of Finance, FutureBrand ('02-'10); Audit Professional, KPMG ('00-'02)Education:
Bachelor of Science in Accounting, State University of New York at Binghamton ('00)Languages:
English and ChineseExperience:
J.Crew, Revlon, Central Park Conservancy, Phillips, Viatel, Cache, Carnegie Corporation, The Renco Group
DIEGO KOLSKY
Passion:
Life at the intersection of people and brandsCareer:
Partner, MBLM (since ’10); Founder, Brandfields ('06-'10); Executive Director, FutureBrand ('94-'06); Intern, Brooklyn Children’s Museum (’93-’94); Designer, Vasallo Grupo de Diseño (’91)Education:
Graduate Communications Design, Pratt Institute; School of Design, Universidad de Buenos AiresLanguages:
English, Spanish and PortugueseClients:
Ayla Development Corporation, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Arcapita Investment Bank, Bahrain Bay, BCP Banco de Crédito del Perú, Banco Itaú, Banco Santander, Brasif, Cantv, Cemex, Chock full'o Nuts, City of Portland, Cisneros Group, ConocoPhillips, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Fujitsu, GE Money, Hasbro, Juan Valdez, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Mexico Tourism Board, Nakheel, Pemex, Repsol YPF, Russ Berrie, Sam Goody, Taqa, Telefónica, The Standard and UPS
JAE-YONG HWANG
Passion:
Bringing order to chaosCareer:
Partner, MBLM (since ‘10); Executive Director, FutureBrand (00-’10); Senior Associate, Bright Sun Group (’98-00)Education:
Political Science, Columbia University (’98)Languages:
English and KoreanClients:
Exxon, Qwest, Stanford University Hospital & Clinics, Mexican Tourism Board, Nakheel, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Al Furjan, Saudi Aramco, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies & Research Center, Emaar, King Abdulaziz Center for Knowledge & Culture, Dubai Sports City, Arcapita, Rawabi Holding, The World, Shurooq, Merck, Marriott, Samsung Life, The Palm, Samsung Electronics, GM, Terra Lycos, Jafza
KRISTIANE HANSTED BLOMQVIST
Passion:
Making brands come alive through creative, strategic and responsible initiatives that bring engagement and results to all stakeholdersCareer:
Director, MBLM (since ’11); Managing Director, Emeyu (’06-’11); VP, Director of Strategy, Sterling Brands ('05-'06); Senior Associate, Prophet ('03 -'05); Senior Consultant, Futurebrand ('00-'03), Junior Executive, Time Magazine (’97-’98)Education:
MSc, Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism ('99), BSc Copenhagen School of Business ('98)Languages:
English, Danish, Swedish, Intermediate French, Basic Italian & SpanishClients:
UBS, Lloyds TSB, Siemens, Discovery Networks, BP, Scottish Newcastle, Dupont, The Coca Cola Company, Telefonica, Cisneros, Household International, National Ban, Pangea, PSN, Banco Itau, Sunstar, Tyco, Encana
LUIS HERRERA
Passion:
Connecting people with brands that surpass experiential, cultural and business performance expectationsCareer:
Founding Partner, MBLM (since ‘07); Design Director, CoreBrand ('99-'06); Managing Director, Comunicación Estratégica ('98-'99); Design Director, Krayer & Associates ('97-'98); Design Director, Abargon ('93-'97); Design Manager, Cablevision ('92-'93)Education:
Graphic Design, Universidad Iberoamericana ('95); Business Management and Strategic Marketing, NYU ('04)Languages:
English and SpanishClients:
Mexichem, Alsea, Carvajal, Creel, Mabe, Comex Group, Pfizer, Kraft, Nestlé, Xicote, Financiera Independencia, Grupo BAL, GEO, OXXO, Unilever, Consejo de la Comunicación, Quetzal, MasterCard, American Century Investments, AT&T, Deutsche Ixe, Toshiba, Hoovers, Aventis, Nascar, GenRe, CIE, Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, Grupo Financiero Bancomer
MARCO RAAB
Passion:
Going new places in design and making them feel like homeCareer:
Partner, MBLM (since ’10); Founding Partner, Stackd.biz (’09); Founding Partner, Supermetric (’07-’10), Partner, Blank Mosseri (‘05-‘07); Allmann Sattler Wappner Architects, Munich, Germany (‘01-‘04)Education:
Master of Architecture, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany (‘01)Languages:
English and GermanClients:
Adidas, Agoos Lovera, Corcoran, Dattner Architects, Ecological, FXI, Gotham Organization, Guggenheim Museum, Healme, Nokia, Rockefeller University, stackd.com, Samsung, Scoretones, Vassar College, VIP Art Fair, Voorsanger Architects
MELISSA KALISH
Passion:
Connecting the dots in new ways to uncover game changing ideas that drive competitive advantage and fuel growthCareer:
Partner, MBLM (since ’07); Director, Gilmore Group (’05-’07); Executive Director, FutureBrand ('01-'04); Director of Consulting, Faith Popcorn ('00 -'01); Managing Partner, Interbrand ('88-'00)Education:
MBA, The Wharton School of Business ('83) BA Economics, University of Maryland ('81)Languages:
English, Basic French and SpanishClients:
Crane & Co., First Data, Comex Group, Ology, Mexichem, Walgreen's, United Way, Bacardi, UPS, Autodesk, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Nike, McDonald's, AT&T, BT, Sirius Satellite Radio, BankBoston, AllFirst Financial, CMP Media, Walt Disney Company, American Express, Procter & Gamble, GM, Knowledge Universe, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Honda, Merck, The Coca-Cola Company
OLAF KREITZ
Passion:
How brands are experienced on digital devicesCareer:
Partner, MBLM (since ’11); Founding Partner, Supermetric ('08-'10); Founder, Braintransfer Inc. ('05-'08); Co-Founder & CMO, Braintransfer AG ('98-'05)Education:
MBA in Marketing & International Management, University of Nuremberg (’98)Languages:
English and GermanClients:
Black & Decker, DeWALT, SonyMusic, Siemens, Studio Babelsberg, Zurich Group, Newell Rubbermaid, FXI, Van Alen Institute, Rodale, VIP Art Fair, Adidas, Gruber Photographers, Gotham Organization, Kliment-Halsband Architects, Scoretones, Sikisoko, Voorsanger Architects
RICARDO SILVA
Passion:
Creating strategies that inspire powerful brand ideasCareer:
Director, MBLM (since ’05); General Manager, DDB ('00-'04); Planning Strategy & New Business VP, McCann Erickson ('95-'00); Executive VP, Aser Y&R, ('93- ´95); General Manager, AGM (´90-´93); Executive VP, Jaime Uribe y Asociados/TBWA ('85-'90); Account Director, Napoleon Franco Marketing Research ('80-'85)Education:
Psychology Universidad de los Andes (’80)Languages:
English and SpanishClients:
Avianca, Aero Republica, Carvajal, Colombina, TQ, Cafam, Ola, Nestle, Mexichem, Alimentos Polar Colombia, Alpinito, Nosotras, Chevrolet/Corsa, Orbitel, Yoplait, Pequeñin, Superley, Meals, La Fuente, Endeavor
RINA PLAPLER
Passion:
Trying new thingsCareer:
Partner, MBLM (since ’10); Senior Executive Director, FutureBrand ('00-'10); Senior Vice President, Gormley & Partners ('95-'00); Brand Planner, Kirshenbaum & Bond ('95)Education:
MA, MTS, Harvard University ('94 '92); McGill University ('90)Languages:
English and ArabicClients:
AT&T, Citibank, MasterCard, Bank of America, Stanford Hospital, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, St. Lucia Tourism, Qatar Tourism, Dubai Sports City, Arcapita Investment Bank, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, The Palm, Saudi Aramco, Marriott, Sergio Garcia
ROBERT KAHN
Passion:
Learning new thingsCareer:
Executive Director MBLM (since ’11), CMO NetJets (’09-’11), CEO Water Brand Group –Dubai (’07-’09), Founder Kahn Consulting (’06-’11), MD Brand Asset Management Group and MD Brand Integration Group - Ogilvy & Mather NY (’03-’06), CMO Brand Union (formerly Enterprise IG) (’01-’03), Founding principal and head of global airline/travel practice Futurebrand (’91-’01), Executive Director Landor Associates SF (’86-’91), Partner Dyer/Kahn Los Angeles (’77-’86).Education:
MBA Pepperdine University, BA University of PennsylvaniaLanguages:
English and “travel French”Clients:
Air Canada, Qantas, Aeromexico, GE Money, IBM, Goldman Sachs, L-3 Communications, Kodak, DuPont, American Express, Hyatt, Hilton, Enterprise Rent a Car, South African Airways, Time Warner Cable, Disney, Paramount Pictures, Mattel, Coca-Cola, Motorola, Saudi Aramco.
ROCIO OLLER
Passion:
To discover the special bond that connects a brand with an individualCareer:
Director, MBLM (since ’09); VP/General Manager, McCann-Erickson Dominicana ('03-'09); General Manager, Leo Burnett Inc. ('00-'02), Director of Client Services, McCann-Erickson ('98-'00); Director of Client Services, Leo Burnett ('92-'98)Education:
Tourist Administration, Belment College ('81); Interior Design ('79)Languages:
English and SpanishClients:
Nestlé, MasterCard, Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, Banco Popular, Verizon, Sansouci, Puntacana Resort & Club, Kelloggs, P&G, Pepsico, Peugot, Samsung, Philip Morris, Scotiabank, Domicem, American Airlines, Empresas León Jimenes, Productos Chef, Banco de Reservas, Secretaría de Estado de Turismo
SIDNEY BLANK
Passion:
How people interact with everything around themCareer:
Partner, MBLM (since ’10); Founding Partner, Supermetric (’07-’10); Founding Partner, Blank Mosseri (’05-’07)Education:
Master of Architecture, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany (’00)Languages:
German, English and Basic SpanishClients:
Adidas, Agoos Lovera, Alsea, Corcoran, Dattner Architects, Ecological, FXI, Gruber Photographers, Gotham Organization, Kliment-Halsband Architects, Nokia, Pratt Institute, Rockefeller University, Schneller, Scoretones, Sikisoko, Symposier, The New School, Van Alen Institute, Vassar College, VIP Art Fair, Voorsanger Architects, Y-Water
BLOG
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MEXICO CITY
Teotihuacán 17
Hipódromo Condesa
México D.F. 06100
MexicoT: +52 55 5574 0563
info.mex@mblm.comCARACAS
Edf. Andrés Germán Otero,
Zona Rental Univ. Metropolitana
La Urbina, Caracas 1073
VenezuelaT: +58 212 243 2969
info.ccs@mblm.comBOGOTA
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Edificio Logic2, Of. 706
Bogotá
ColombiaTel: +57 1 742 2389
info.bog@mblm.comSTO. DOMINGO
Ave. Gustavo Mejía Ricart 69
Torre Washington, 2º Piso
Pianitini, Santo Domingo
Dominican RepublicT: +1 809 299 4245
info.sdq@mblm.comDUBAI
Indigo Icon, Suite 1407
Jumeirah Lake Towers
P.O. Box 390306
Dubai, UAET: +971 4 446 7363
info.dxb@mblm.comSANTIAGO DE CHILE
Procorp
an MBLM Business PartnerDarío Urzúa 1841
Providencia, Santiago de ChileT: +56 2 733 2100
info.scl@mblm.com
CREDENTIALS
Family Business Leadership 2.0
Middle Eastern family businesses are fascinating. The region is full of examples of first generation entrepreneurs that come from humble beginnings and have created mega business empires through inventiveness, speed and uncanny business acumen. Knowing that many have achieved these feats in the absence of even the most basic financial, organizational and technological tools makes their meteoric rise even more astounding. Today, brands such as Al-Futtaim, Alshaya and Al Naboodah are beacons of progress, drivers of local and regional economies, and increasingly important players on the global stage. [continue reading...]
Go to blogFeb 14 Business / Destinations / Technology

On Open and Closed Systems
Reading Steve Jobs' biography makes you think about the recipe for success. Financial success, of course, but more than that, one wonders about, what makes products so successful that they are literally loved by millions of people, consistently over decades. Jobs hints at the user experience advantage provided by closed systems and I feel he is right. Of course, in a world where the good people are pushing for Open Source, many would di [continue reading...]
Go to blogFeb 08 Blog / Business / Technology
You Push the Button, We Do (Did) the Rest
On September 4, 1888 George Eastman registered the name Kodak, which he jointly developed with his mother. Later that year the first Kodak camera emerged on the market. The pictures it took were a scant 2 ½ inches in diameter, but as they say the rest is history. What the Kodak brand stood for over time was so powerful and globally ubiquitous that it became synonymous with American ingenuity and the popularization of complex technology for the common man. There were times when you could travel to the farthest reaches of the globe and easily spot the yellow and red Kodak film boxes at remote bodegas as well as the finest emporiums. It was most likely alongside a sign for Coca-Cola, the other principal American export to the world for most of the 20th Century. [continue reading...]
Go to blogJan 26 Blog / Business / Press / Technology
The Next Language of Business
Devices and services are coming together at a fast clip, changing the way people get everyday things done. We can now stream any type of content from our tablet, use our phones to pay at checkout, turn appliances on and off remotely and even let the utility company decide when to turn on the air conditioner. When you think about it, the smarting of products is changing the most mundane of chores–and with that– established notions of what brands stand for:. Your phone now does what your credit card did, your tablet replaces your DVR, your laptop is a universal remote control and utilities double as financial advisors. [continue reading...]
Go to blogJan 23 Blog / Brand Intimacy / Technology
Is It Green, or Isn't It?
I consider myself to be a fairly environmentally conscious person. I live in New York and don't have a car, so that's a common vice that's easy for me to do without. I'm the guy the girl in the deli recognizes as "no bag" for my morning bagel. I routinely transport groceries home in a bag I brought with me. Admittedly, it's my wife who schlepps the empty cans back to the supermarket, but if she forgets to do so then I can rest assured that the can-collector will come around with his shopping cart and pull them out of the bin. In New York there are microeconomies subsisting on deposit currency, so I know those cans and bottles are not going into the waste stream. [continue reading...]
Go to blogJan 23 Blog / Sustainability

John Diefenbach, Uncut
John Diefenbach, MBLM's Chairman, talks about brands, reputation and the CEO's advantage in a connected world. [continue reading...]
Go to blogSep 12 Blog / Brand Intimacy

Fear of a Snickers Planet
I have long been a Snickers fan, devoted since childhood. I remember with glee of a gift from a friend of a shoe box filled with Snickers and even recall an ill-fated Snickers diet in high school, where I ate 3-4 Snickers a day and nothing else. So Snickers and I go way back. At various times throughout the past year or two, while waiting in line at Duane Reade, or in the supermarket, I have noticed a few new Snickers flavors popping u [continue reading...]
Go to blogSep 08 Brand Intimacy / Inspiration / Uncategorized

Destination Branding 2.0 - Operationalizing a Destination Brand
Historically, focus was on creating a destination brand: determining its positioning or value proposition and then designing an identity reflecting its unique aspects. While this process remains extremely important and establishes the marketing blueprint for any destination brand, it is only a small part of what is required. [continue reading...]
Go to blogSep 08 Blog / Brand Intimacy / Destinations
Can Intimacy Create Control?
This is such an exciting time because the interplay of everyday existence with technology allows for greater intimacy with the world around us. The ability to take our life with us wherever we go via a small mobile device has and will continue to revolutionize the way we live, the way we act and how we feel. [continue reading...]
Go to blogMay 25 Blog / Brand Intimacy

Destination Branding 2.0 - The Landscape
Destination branding has been becoming more popular over the past several years, notably the last decade, with countries, regions, cities and major events trying to create a more powerful and compelling presence. Having work extensively with destinations around the world, it is interesting to address new opportunities and approaches for success. [continue reading...]
Go to blogMay 09 Blog / Brand Intimacy / Destinations
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