Thorsten Barré
Strategy, Marketing, Brand. Orchestrated as one signal. Rooted in digital.
25 years in the boardroom and the field. CCO and board member at digital agency Jakala Germany (formerly FFW, formerly Cellular), scaling the creative team for ZDF, HVV and TUI Cruises from 20 to 50+ across Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna, Copenhagen, and Milan. Part of the 2024 private equity exit. Before that: a decade as independent strategy advisor, from Comdirect to DFB (German Football Association).
Fewer slides. Harder choices. Real impact.
That's the signal.
Dossier
- 2019 - 2026
-
CCO (Chief Creative Officer), Member of the Board
Jakala Group (formerly FFW, formerly Cellular); Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna, Copenhagen, Milan
- Leadership & Growth: Full ownership of the creative disciplines: strategy, UX/UI. Grew the team from 20 to more than 50. Built the structure to match. From 2021, built international, interdisciplinary teams with FFW's Copenhagen office.
- Client & Product Development: Grew and managed key German accounts: ZDF, TUI Cruises, HVV/Hochbahn, VTG. Delivered digital product launches and relaunches, working closely with the CTO, Client Service, and clients.
- M&A Success & Post-Merger: Key role in the private equity exit to Jakala. After the exit in 2024, took on global responsibility for marketing communications and corporate identity at HQ level in Milan. Direct collaboration with the worldwide C-suite.
- 2010 - 2019
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Digital Business, Innovation & Strategy Advisor
Independent strategy consultant for digital products & innovation; Hamburg
- Focus & Expertise: Strategic, content, and creative direction for digital innovation projects and products. In from day one, not after the fact.
- Clients & Industries: Digital MarTech products and services for established names. Fintech and tech, including Comdirect and Jimdo. Medical technology for Olympus Medical, B2B. Sports, for DOSB, DFB, Sportfive, BVB, HSV.
- Method & Value: In before the brief existed. No agency pitch, no hand-off. Strategy and creative direction from a single source, ready to execute.
- 2009 - 2010
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Entrepreneur
Co-founder of two start-ups; Hamburg
- Founding & Finance: Co-founded two digital start-ups. Owned brand, product design, and marketing. Raised angel capital and early-stage financing from HackFwd, the incubator powered by Lars Hinrichs, founder of Xing.
- Iterate & Strategize: Applied key learnings from venture one to sharpen venture two's product-market fit. Sold my equity stake in 2010.
- 2006 - 2009
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Marketing Director
Versant Corp. (NASDAQ); Hamburg, Munich, Redwood City/USA
- Global B2B Marketing Responsibility: Led global marketing for the NASDAQ-listed US software company, formed from the merger of Versant and POET Software. Focus on communications and PR.
- Market Development: Built B2B market penetration and positioning in the new "Massive Multiplayer Online Gaming" (MMOG) segment. Focus on the USA and North America.
- 2005 - 2006
-
Marketing Director
Vanatec GmbH; Munich
- Spin-off, Positioning, Branding: Full responsibility for B2B marketing. Built the company and brand from the ground up for this spin-off from POET Software.
- Market Expansion: Positioned the B2B software product and consulting services across the D/A/CH region. Led the subsequent European rollout, with a focus on the Nordics.
- 2000 - 2005
- Sr. Marketing Manager POET Software (NASDAQ); Hamburg, San Mateo/USA
- 1999 - 2000
- Program Manager Economia Advertising Agency; Hamburg
- 1994 - 1999
- Program Manager Marke + Slogan Advertising Agency; Hamburg
Education
- 1999
- Certified Marketing Specialist (IHK) IHK Frankfurt (German Chamber of Industry and Commerce)
- 1993
- Advertising Management Apprenticeship Marke + Slogan Advertising Agency; Hamburg
Languages
- German
- Native language
- English
- Business fluent, full working proficiency
- Spanish
- Solid proficiency (B1/B2)
Let's get in touch.
- linkedin.com/in/thorstenbarre
- hi@t210.com