Rufus joined ITV in 2011 as Group Marketing and Research Director, leading a transformation of all of ITV’s marketing and research activities. In January 2013, ITV rebranded its entire business, creating a multi-award winning identity and leading to a new marketing approach across all of ITV’s touch points. This work has led to ITV winning Media Week’s brand of the year, Drum’s rebrand of the year, the Grand Prix at the Transform Awards and ITV’s first ever IPA effectiveness award. ITV has also taken a brand new approach to research, using the latest digital technology to create a new online only research panel to test new programme ideas helping ITV to develop new hit shows and bringing new insight into the organization. Most recently Rufus oversaw the marketing of ITV’s first new channel launches for over 8 years, ITV Encore and ITVBe. He currently sits on the Freeview Board.
Before ITV Rufus spent 10 years at Channel 4. Joining as part of E4’s launch marketing tea, Rufus played a key role in the launch of one of the UK’s most successful youth brands, winning Media Week’s launch of the year. Rufus led the further development of the Channel 4 family with the launch of More4 and the pioneering 4oD service.
Rufus started his career in advertising, working at McCann Erickson and JWT as an account man, working on blue chip FMCG clients including Kellogg, L’Oreal and Nescafe, as well as Gulf Air’s first ever UK advertising using the language skills he developed studying French and Arabic at Oxford University.
