Ron Simone
President Stratum Five Inc.
Media
Social
Biography
Prior to founding Stratum Five, Ron was a Corporate Officer, Vice President, and member of the executive team of Canadian Tire Financial Services (CTFS), one of the most innovative and successful financial services organizations in North America.
Under his leadership over a span of 10 years, earnings from cross-sell services quadrupled. His portfolio of insurance, extended warranty, membership services, and reinsurance was independently benchmarked to be five times more profitable than any like-scaled North American credit card issuer. While at CTFS, Ron also held operating accountability for a Roadside Assistance business which served General Motors, VW, Audi, and Canadian Tire. The business ranked in the top 10% of North American call centers with an 80% top-box customer satisfaction score.
Ron’s early marketing experience was with PepsiCo (Canada) and Gallo Winery internationally. He has served as a marketing awards judge and conference speaker with the Canadian Marketing Association, as an Executive-in-Residence for Marks & Spencer Money in the UK, and as an Advisor/Director for several private, entrepreneurial ventures.
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
President's Award for Outstanding Leadership
Awarded annually to individuals demonstrating honesty, integrity, dignity, and respect while delivering outstanding business results
Best in Class Portfolio Profitability
Led a business unit independently benchmarked to be five times more profitable than any like-scaled business in its North American class.
Best in Class Customer Service
While serving as Vice President & member of Executive Team, received SQM Group Call Center Recognition in two categories
• World Class (top 5%) in employee satisfaction (150 employees)
• 80% 'top box' score in customer satisfaction
Inventor
Revenue enhancement and cross-sell merchandising method for high-volume soft drink and coffee service locations. Awarded United States Patent 5,007,578
Education
Ivey School of Business - Western University
Honors B.A.
Marketing and Business Administration
Runner-up Gold Medalist
Testimonials
Conference Attendees
Canadian Marketing Conference - National Convention
"Best presentation of the whole conference - relevant, honest, and gave us meat to act on! Bravo!"
"The best presentation of the show"
"Ron has a great/enthusiastic way of speaking"
"Very clear! Very informative! Nice flow! Excellent use of analogies and stories!"
85% Excellent Rating
Previously, Vice President, Enterprise Loyalty
Canadian Tire Corporation
"Ron is one of the most strategically agile people that I have ever worked with. He has been able to create value through his special ability to create new business models and to complete big ticket negotiations to get them done. He is a creative, customer-focused marketer and a master of added value revenue generation ideas."
President
Actv8 Marketing Inc.
"Ron is a driver and passionate about getting results. He leads by example and
is one of the best thinkers I have met. He has consistently built strong teams that ensure delivery of
their corporate promise. There is not one subordinate who would not say Ron was their most dynamic leader."
Chief Financial Officer
CAA South Central Ontario
“I know you don’t like being labelled the ‘ideas guy’, but creativity and innovation are like fresh air
swooshing into a room, pushing aside the staleness that had settled in. You bring your own supply of fresh air with you wherever you go. Salesmanship begins with the first “no”. That first “no” is the sound of a starter’s pistol for you. Combining your creativity to develop solutions that weren’t there before, reasons that no one else thought of, or new ways to get it done, you are a negotiating force to be reckoned with.”
Previously, Head of Marketing
M&S Money
“Well presented, articulate, and with a well developed ability to think laterally and generate good
quality ideas. Ron has the credentials to deliver real added value."
Manager, Enterprise Payroll
Canadian Tire Corporation
"You were the Steven Spielberg of the Company. Your movies were all very memorable and allowed
me the opportunity to dream and grow. You approached making each movie with an unmatched
passion. You had both your critics and your supporters, but all the greats do. I was thrilled to serve
as both a character and a fan. It was great!!"
Assistant Vice President, Product Management
AGIA Insurance Services
"Ron is an outstanding visionary with superior ability to create and build outstanding businesses. He
has a long term point of view, is an excellent leader, motivator, and mentor; and the consummate
team player. He has the ability to motivate everyone around him to raise the level of their game and
optimize their abilities."
President
Nexeus Associates
"Ron manages to bridge the gap of intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship - of providing vision and a disciplined operating mindset to challenges and opportunities. An intuitive and unapologetic observer of the 'big picture', Ron perceives opportunities most miss, while having evolved an acute sense of the pragmatic and the profitable - crafting business solutions that are differentiating, value-adding, and eminently executable."
Event Appearances
One Team. One Goal
National Franchisee Convention Corporate Event, Toronto
1970-01-01
Leading The Way
HBA Leader's Forum Western University
9 Essential Steps to Gaining Executive Alignment to your CRM Vision
Canadian Marketing Association - Seminar Speaker Toronto
You Can't Always Get Want You Want
MBA Event Brock University
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Panelist
- Corporate Training
