Michael Leander is an accomplished international direct and interactive marketing speaker. Covering a range of topics related to direct marketing, interactive marketing and CRM, he has presented in front of audiences in more than 25 countries earning him a reputation as a “great marketing speaker and marketing trainer”.
Following a career in sales, marketing and management, Michael Leander began speaking professionally in second half of 2008. Prior to 2008 he frequently spoke at conferences, seminars and trade-show – but back then he represented the various companies he then worked for.
Grounded in his 20 years of corporate experience from publishing, IT software, printing, IT distribution, e-services and marketing consulting, he is a hands-on marketing expert. And he preaches only what he practices.
Having lived and worked in several countries in Asia, North America and Europe, Michael Leander currently resides in Scandinavia with his wife and their three children. With a truly international background, he is accustomed to quickly understanding and relating to different cultures, which his many endorsements will attest to.
Retaining clients to keep it real
Michael Leander continues to work with a handful of consulting clients at any given time. He believes it is important for the quality and value of his presentations to include these practical experiences. He is also involved in several other operational ventures, which ensures him a constant flow of concrete input and case studies, which he in turn may use in his direct and interactive marketing presentations.
Abstract of Michael Leander’s work experience
Michael Leander’s first two jobs saw him selling door-to-door and being a telemarketing in Florida, USA. A valuable experience, which later should prove a great ballast for his continued career in marketing and sales. In his early career, Michael Leander worked as a sales manager in publishing, as a consultant in advertising, as a sales- and marketing manager in a printing company and as a publisher of newspapers and magazines.
He lives and breathes direct marketing
All of these positions and a certain book about direct marketing, stimulated Michaels interest in direct marketing at an early age.
In fact so much so, that as a very young advertising consultant he would go to extremes to sell clients the idea of using direct mail.
Luckily for him,one of his first clients, SAS Travel Agency, also had a strong belief in direct mail. Working with SAS encouraged him not to give up. In fact he developed a multi-step marketing concept, which he presented to 50 amazed marketers whom unfortunately were so much into mass advertising that they dared not venture into this new “medium”.
Later as a publisher, he had hones his direct marketing skills so much that he invented a number of unique direct marketing and distribution concepts.
Nearly 10 years in IT software makes a marketer
A turn of events in his publishing business saw Michael Leander enter the IT Software industry in 2003 when he become the Country Manager of a leading CRM software vendor. After a series of mergers and acquisitions, Michael went from CRM software over value added distribution to see himself in charge of marketing and loyalty with the largest IT distribution company in the region.
From 1997 Michael Leander headed back into CRM software when he took on a position as the Nordic CEO of Canadian/Norwegian CRM software vendor. That company was later acquired by a larger regional CRM player. Under their ownership Michael Leander expanded the CRM company until it was merged with the parent company. Michael stayed on for a while before finally returning to his home country.
Entrepreneur at heart
Following a sting of nearly two years as the sales- and marketing director of a highly innovative promotional gifts and e-services company, Michael Leander realized that corporate politics was not his game and decided to become an entrepreneur once again.
He founded a direct and interactive marketing consultancy. He later acquired an Email Service Provider and turned that into the leading ESP in the region. The units in his small corporation merged in 2005 and subsequently acquired by a large German public company in the industry.
The non-compete clause years
Early 2006 Michael Leander exited as CEO and due to a non-compete clause in his contract, he spent three years researching, consulting and was heavily involved in board and advisory board work. In late 2008, he began speaking on the international marketing circuit. In 2009 he began consulting clients in the direct and interactive marketing space. He also founded Markedu in 2009. He primarily spend his time with Michael Leander Company, which is an international direct and interactive marketing consultancy serving clients all over Europe.
