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Gundars jegers

CREATIVE STRATEGY • DATA-DRIVEN DIGITAL MARKETING • UX TESTING & DESIGN

Proven business and agency leader driving record growth through data-driven marketing initiatives across all channels to translate customer needs into effective experiences.

Highly regarded for ability to build, mentor, and lead cost-saving teams of UX and digital marketing experts. Trusted as innovative ‘go-to’ resource for high-visibility strategies, brand/product launches, and data-driven insights to ensure timely, relative, and targeted User Experiences (UX).

Digital Engagement Strategy | Brand & Creative Strategy | Integrated Marketing | Email | Mobile | Search (SEO/SEM) Social Media | Display | Affiliate | OOH | Behavioral insights | Voice of the Customer (VOC) | Qualitative & Quantitative Research & Testing | Heatmaps | Analytics | Machine Learning (AI) | Personalization | DMP | CMS | CDN

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE


Principal Channel Specialist, Acquisition Marketing
Discover Financial Services
2018 - Present

Optimizing the acquisition marketing site User Experience (UX) through design, content, performance, and search (SEO/SEM) improvements for Student, Secured, Miles, and Business card products. Leverage qualitative moderated and unmoderated usability testing, focus groups, surveys, customer listening, site metrics, quantitative tests (A/B/n, MVT, auto-allocate, automated personalization), heatmaps, form analytics, and Voice of the Customer (VOC) tools to build consensus and fuel data-driven decisions.

  • Driving record double-digit YOY growth, exceeding industry benchmarks for win rates with tests regularly providing up to 10% account lifts
  • Gained tens of thousands incremental accounts through an iterative navigation redesign strategy including tree testing, heatmaps, analytics, usability testing, continuous A/B/n tests, and DMP segmentation
  • Improved keyword page ranking, achieving over $1MM savings in cost-per-click (CPC) through landing page content and code performance improvements
  • Spearheaded strategy for first enterprise-wide implementation of machine learning (AI) testing, coordinating with all business lines, COE teams and vendors, obtaining compliance approval, and outlining governance processes

    • Manager, Acquisition MARKETING
    Discover Financial Services
    2012 - 2018

    Established the acquisition marketing conversion rate optimization (CRO) team, locally and remotely, improving user experience (UX) through department-wide testing and Agile card application improvements - deriving insights from heatmaps, analytics, customer service agents, customer listening, and Voice of the Customer (VOC) sources.

  • Generated multi-million-dollar savings, tens of thousands of accounts annually, and account lifts - up to 51% - leading a team of testing subject matter experts (SME), and cross-functional teams
  • Redesigned industry-leading booking experiences produced over 100,000 incremental accounts, decreased application completion times, reduced code complexity and technical errors, and minimized customer friction
  • Championed six product launches for Discover’s flagship it card, Secured card, Miles card, Business card, Freeze it, and Discover’s Free Credit Scorecard for prospects
  • Improved risk mitigation efficiency by 40+ hours per month automating regulatory audits, raised accuracy, reduced operational risk events, and increased review frequency for more timely error reporting
  • Implemented department-wide education on creative strategy, brand value, behavioral insights, and UX best practices through weekly presentations and facilitating access to learning resources / conferences
  • Guided department’s web request Continuous Improvement group, devising 20+ concurrent CI initiatives to further educate business partners and mitigate risks

    • Manager, Digital Design, corporate branding & Creative Services
    Discover Financial Services
    2011 - 2012

    Recruited to build the Digital team and instill confidence across internal business partners, earning a reputation as a reliable and trusted partner with strategy, design and implementation expertise to generate double- and triple-digit lift for key campaigns. Instituted a full-service, in-house digital agency by assessing organizational needs, team strengths, and aligning resources. Drove dozens of multi-channel initiatives and product launches from strategic planning to execution.

  • Captured $3MM+ cost savings annually through development of internal capabilities including display, web, outdoor, social media, email, search, and video
  • Developed and facilitated a comprehensive digital training program for 30+ agency team members, fueling a 30% expansion in digital project volume

    • Creative Director
    Siren Interactive
    2009 - 2010

    Drove brand direction and creative vision—through digital channels—specializing in relationship marketing and Voice of the Patient solutions for rare disorder therapies; a direct report to the President and playing a vital role in agency’s financial success. Oversaw online intelligence gathering, testing and analytics, customer segmentation, content strategy, SEM, CRM, IA, wireframes, design and development, back-end integration, and regulatory compliance.

  • Shaped annual marketing plan / strategy for 15+ sites and social media properties, defining search, event marketing, and patient relations initiatives for industry-leading clients
  • Doubled Creative team from 5 to 10 through transformational leadership and vision to convert into a high-performing team of content strategists, UX designers, and front-end programmers
  • Drove a 900% increase in therapeutic kit orders for key client, through digital market positioning, online strategy, UX, and multi-channel integration
  • Built first-of-kind database-driven mobile interface for key client, an interactive dose finder, help doctors and patients to precisely target better dosing matches for their individual needs

    • Creative Director
    JWT, INside
    2007 - 2009

    Re-engineered the Creative team to combine digital with offline into an Integrated Marketing group, transforming workflow, relationships, and project dynamics. Managed 3 national offices, drove creative strategy, staff of 6 (ACDs, ADs, designers, developers, copywriters, IAs), and P&L for Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland markets.

  • Led growth on a national level based on project management, creative direction, branding expertise and through UX analysis and adaptation
  • Adapted to needs during economic downturn, managing projects and client engagements in multiple additional national offices

    • Creative Director, Senior Designer and Developer/Team Lead
    TDO/The design office
    1998 - 2006

    Championed integrated marketing and branding solutions from creative concept to final production for a diverse mix of national and international clients in such industries as pharmaceutical, insurance, aviation, financial, and high-end luxury consumer products.

  • Developed buyer’s guide generating $1.3MM in 9 months; produced campaign realizing $125M in pre-launch sales
  • Acquired and refined expertise in areas of web design and development, IA, testing and analytics, SEO, and PPC

    • EDUCATION


    Pratt Institute
    BACHElor of fine arts (BFA), communication arts & graphic design, Cum Laude

    awards


    Discover President's Award • Discover Bravo Award (38) • Discover Hackathon • Marcom Awards (5) • MM&M Award Finalist • WebAwards (7) • RxClub Awards (3) • Astrid Award • Creative Excellent Awards (7) • iNova Award

    SPECIALIZED SKILLS


    • Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Marketing Cloud, ClickTale, Tealeaf, BazaarVoice, OpinionLab, Rally, Jira, Microsoft 365 • Training: Adobe Target, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), Discover Lean Change Agent Training • Fluency: English/Latvian

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    experience that spans a wide variety of industries

    see MY client list