Ed Breault, VP, Head of Marketing, Aprimo
Ed is a “full stack” marketer driving both the art and science aspects of marketing. As head of marketing, Ed leads Aprimo‘s marketing strategy and operations including all paid/owned/earned media, brand experience, product marketing, content marketing, PR, demand generation, and the rebirth and growth of Aprimo.
What has been your proudest career accomplishment to date?
My proudest career achievement has to be the complete relaunch of the Aprimo company, product, and brand. This was a long challenging process to divest from Teradata after having been sold in 2011 for $565 million and picked up by private equity in the summer of 2016. This included the integration of two additional technology acquisitions into the Aprimo portfolio business. The market is now embracing Aprimo as a reinvented market leader and the company is back to growing top-line revenue.
What’s the best piece of advice you can give to future 40 under 40 honorees?
Stay uncomfortable; growing includes continuing to push outside your comfort zone. There were many points in my career where I had opportunities to achieve at the next level and my mind flooded with doubt. I look back at those times, and though painful and with failures, it was where I made my largest leaps forward.
What do you hope to accomplish in the next 5 years?
I hope to hone my skill at listening and become a great storyteller, as storytelling has become the new strategic imperative of any business. Companies and brands that make connections at the emotional level will build advocacy and preference with their audience. I love building connections and getting people to open up.
What is one interesting fact about you that few people know?
I never really saw myself making a career in marketing. I got my start in nuclear energy mining through data and building advanced analytic solutions for nuclear power plants. It’s probably not unique to me but I firmly believe you don’t find marketing, marketing finds you.
