Ashok Sharma, CUA - WordPress.com

Ashok Sharma, CUA 640 Raphael Place Charlotte, North Carolina 28025 Mobile: 704.737.5600 Portfolio: http://ashoksharmacreative.com Email: [email protected] “Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction, and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.” – John Kotter

Voice & Value:

Professional Experience:

Known as “The Strategist.” Can effectively employ explosive vision & thought leadership to build beneficial experience models that deliver profitable and differentiated business and user experience (UX) solutions. These solutions center on storytelling, brand and content management, multichannel exposure, usability and adoption, marketing & social media, and global expansion. Measurable results have yielded increased unique customers (purchasers), industry dominance, process excellence, and intense organizational innovation.

Results & Capabilities at a Glance • Defined content / CMS strategy for home improvement online presence (Lowes.com) contributing to 70% Y / Y (2011 / 2010) increase in sales, 24% above plan and .4% above forecast • Implemented SEO best practices, yielding a 65% Y / Y (2011 / 2010) increase in natural search traffic • Directed content strategy campaigns for home improvement company, inclusive of Father’s Day and 4th of July, resulting in 74% & 28%, respectively, Y / Y (2010 / 2009) increase in sales • Decisive thought leadership and creative direction resulted in highly lauded, innovative home improvement initiative that ushered in new products, niche market (Accessible Home), and increased sales • Retooled layout and process of complex content management system, resulting in 60% increased efficiency and ease of use, performance for staff of copywriters and content strategists • Garnered 15 years of strategic online marketing experience inclusive of home improvement and major automotive retailers • Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) • Proficient in Agile methodology, resulting in cross-functional collaboration, streamlined requirements gathering, keen design review & demo presentation, and speed-to-market deployment • Possess copy-side creative background; eye for art direction / design input • Strong conceptual skills across a variety of media including print, email, online advertising and websites

Ashok Sharma Resume | Page 1 of 4

• •

Experience and affinity for developing talent, molding teams and managing creative people for high-quality work Proven ability to project manage and “juggle”; strong presentation skills and client management experience

Specialty Creative Directorship User Experience Design Online Marketing Rich Media Management

“Business

innovation goes above & beyond designing great products and solutions. Rather, it is about delivering on a brand promise and experience to your customers— a hallmark of meaningful and measurable value.” – Ashok Sharma

09 12 09 09

years years years years

Area Content Strategy SEO Strategy Automotive Design Home Improvement

06 06 11 03

years years years years

Content Strategy Manager / Agile Product Owner (Present, since Q1 2011) • Responsible for defining Content / CMS strategy for home improvement online presence (Lowes.com) contributing to 70% Y / Y (2011 / 2010) increase in sales, 24% above plan and .4% above forecast • Create, manage, and prioritize roadmap for multiple content programs • Interface with key internal stakeholders and external service providers • Conduct ongoing extensive content audits and offer findings & recommendations for continuous content evolution • Responsible for formation, facilitation, and ultimate management of content team comprised of copy editors, copywriters and content strategists • Implemented SEO best practices (optimized non-product content), yielding a 65% Y / Y (2011 / 2010) increase in natural search traffic o Mobile Paid Search spend grew by 66% Q / Q, driving 2.3MM visits to home improvement site, resulting in 32% of total traffic o How-to video viewership up 87% Y / Y (4.3MM) • Directed editorial compliance via style guide & vendor guidelines (model & framework adopted across home improvement company); streamlined content team requirements gathering and task workflow • Initiated and led procurement process for enterprise video, blog, and content provider platforms • Co-Product Owner for Lowes.com Core Tools team responsible for prioritizing back-end and front-end CMS work streams • Work seamlessly with cross-functional Agile / UX team, inclusive of Scrum masters, Product Owners, User Experience Architects, Digital Merchants, Marketing Managers, Visual Designers, Front-end Developers, Content Strategists, Copywriters, Editors, Engineers, Quality Assurance, and Creative Directors Senior Content Strategist (Campaign Alignment / Transformative Design) • Collaborated in extensive 2010 Content Strategy program development for home improvement online presence (Lowes.com); resulted in dramatic increase in content exposure, channels, interaction, visits, assisted sales, and repeat engagement • Led and developed content strategy for 2010 campaigns inclusive of Father's Day (74%) and 4th of July (28%) above 2009 sales


•

•

Creative Lead on successful new business initiative Accessible Home; developed content strategy and directed all aspects of creative disciplines from ideation to deployment Retooled layout and process of complex CMS (Teamsite Content Management System) resulting in 60% increased efficiency and ease of use, performance for content team copywriters and content strategists

Senior Creative Directorship • Responsible for the development of Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge digital creative for all international markets (outside Canada, United States, and Mexico) • Developed an international template structure to unify all Chrysler LLC global sites • Responsible for developing an online presence for all Chrysler LLC PR initiatives • Co-directed creative look and feel for national and regional online incentives • Responsible for annual redesign of Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep Auto Show portals • Responsible for 2007 redesign of Chrysler LLC corporate site • Responsible for development and design of all-new Chrysler International Fleet site • Campbell-Ewald Digital | Chevrolet Online Media o Responsible for the creation, development and execution of all Chevrolet online media • Campbell-Ewald Digital | Chevrolet.com | Chevrolet Catalog o Responsible for content strategy, resource planning and development of the 2006 Chevy.com website refresh o Supervised, mentored and coached staff of eight art directors (2005) o Developed all-new Chevrolet Consumer Email Program o Developed Chevy Online Media Process o Produced all-new 2005 Corvette Experience DVD insert o Responsible for content strategy and digital launch of all-new 2004 Chevy Malibu (chevymalibu.com, catalog and CD insert) o Produced 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary CD insert Copywriting and Supervision • Campbell-Ewald Digital | Chevrolet.com | Chevrolet Catalog o Responsible for establishing uniform copy and organizational style guidelines for Chevy.com o Launched all-new Impala and Monte Carlo website o Launched all-new Tracker and Tahoe websites o Responsible for writing online product content for all Chevrolet cars


Career History:

2009 to Present Lowe’s Home Improvement | Mooresville, North Carolina http://www.lowes.com Content Strategy Manager / Agile Product Owner (2011 to Present) Senior Content Strategist (2009 to 2011) 2006 to 2008 Organic Inc. http://www.organic.com Associate Creative Director Campbell-Ewald Digital 1997 to 2006 http://www.c-e.com VP, Associate Creative Director (2005 to 2006) Associate Creative Director (2003 to 2005) Digital Copy Supervisor (2000 to 2003) Senior Copywriter (1999 to 2000) Copywriter (1997 to 1999)

Accolades:

Education & Certification:

2010 Lowes.com MVP Award 2002 Campbell-Ewald Employee of the Year Campbell-Ewald Creative Excellence Awards: 2005 Country Music Award (CMA) Integration 2004 Cobalt Blender 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary CD 2003 chevymalibu.com The “D” Show (formerly Caddy) Awards: 2005 Silver – Chevy.com, Best Automotive Website 2000 Bronze – Corvette Launch, Best Automotive Website 2000 Bronze – Tahoe Launch, Best Automotive Website 1999 Gold – Monte Carlo Pre-Launch, Best Automotive Website Bachelor in English | University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan June 1993 Roeper City & Country School | Birmingham, Michigan June 1998 Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) | Charlotte, North Carolina February 2012

                                      References and business deliverables provided as separate documentation, upon request
