Silver Apples 2018

Presented in partnership with DMCNY

Each year the DMCNY presents its highly distinguished Silver Apple Awards to several professionals who have at least 25 years in marketing and who not only have excelled in their careers, but also have generously contributed their talents and time to the marketing industry. We’ll be introducing you to the 2018 honorees over the next few weeks, in advance of DMCNY’s annual Silver Apples celebration on November 8 in New York.

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Today, meet…

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Bonin Bough

Founder & Chief Growth Officer, Bonin Ventures; Investor;
Host of CNBC’s Cleveland Hustles; Author of Txt Me (646) 759-1837

Honoree: Disruptor Apple of Excellence

How did a student of physics so handily become a highly sought-after, award-winning marketer? Consider…

Physics: the science of matter and energy and their interactions

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Marketing: the art of data (matter) and creative (energy) their impact on customer interactions

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Bonin Bough has been at the heart of exceptionally creative and data-driven marketing that incites customer action for the

entirety of his career. He went from college graduate to SVP during his seven years at Ruder Finn, where he directed the Strategy and Architecture practice and led digital strategy and user experience for all the agency’s clients—and that was just the beginning. Often the youngest senior executive in the room, his resume reads like that of a long-tenured master digital marketer:

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• EVP, Global Director of Screengrab, Social, Interactive, and Emerging Media, Weber Shandwick

• Senior Global Director of Digital and Social Media, PepsiCo

• Chief Media & eCommerce Officer, Mondelēz International

• Chief Growth & Marketing Officer, Sundial Brands

He propelled each of those companies and their marketing forward with zeal and audacity like no other. To describe Bonin as dynamic is a vast understatement. He’s used that dynamism to continually challenge the marketing status quo and think differently about how to better understand and engage customers. He brings the tenets of traditional direct marketing to digital and mobile channels while boldly testing new strategies—for example, he spearheaded the premiere of the first-ever real-time 3D-printed food product: the customizable 3D-printed Oreo featured at South by Southwest. He also led the launch of Gatorade Mission Control, an industry-leading model for real-time marketing, and PepsiCo10, a global digital innovation platform.

His unique approach of applying innovative technology to create breakthrough campaigns helped to reinvigorate traditional marketing brands such as Gatorade, Honey Maid, Oreo, and Pepsi. 

But his influence doesn’t stop there. Bonin believes in supporting young talent and savvy entrepreneurs.While at Mondelēz International, for example, he created internal programs to mentor young talent and launched a startup innovation program, Mobile Futures, to provide a platform for marketing-tech and agency start-ups to work with the GPG giant. 

A frequent, sought-after speaker, Bonin’s many accolades include being named “Mobile Marketer of the Year” by the Mobile Marketing Association and a “Visionary” by CSQ magazine.

Stephanie Agresta, global director of enterprise growth at Qnary, describes him best in her recommendation on LinkedIn: “Bonin is a force of nature….  A true rockstar from Cleveland to Cannes, Bonin has been [at] the forefront of the digital revolution from the beginning. Smart, successful, and connected, Bonin has the pulse on what’s next. Those that know Bonin well can also attest to his generosity, commitment to mentorship, and a deep belief that anything is possible.”

Read about the other DMCNY 2018 Silver Apple honorees:

• Anita Absey, Chief Revenue Officer, Voxy

• Matt Blumberg, Chairman and CEO, Return Path

• Pamela Haas, Senior Account Director, Experian Marketing Services

• Keira Krausz, EVP and CMO, Nutrisystem

• Tim Suther, SVP and GM, Data Solutions, Change Healthcare

• Advocacy Apple of Excellence: Stu Ingis, Chairman, Venable LLP

• Corporate honoree: Winterberry Group

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About the Author

Ginger Conlon, chief editor and marketing alchemist at MKTGinsight, catalyzes change in marketing organizations. She is a frequent speaker on marketing and customer experience, and serves in advisory or leadership roles for several industry organizations. Ginger was honored with a Silver Apple lifetime achievement award for her contributions to the marketing industry.​

Find her at @customeralchemy and on LinkedIn.