I’m Joining the Edelman Digital Team

24 May

Picture 1I'm joining the Edelman Digital team.

Yes, really.

All stories have multiple acts.  My first act was in the land of large firms, and I spent nearly a decade at Andersen Consulting back in the late 1980s and 1990s, working on everything from artificial intelligence to Indy cars.  After catching the startup bug in 1999, I spent a few years at startup called Extricity that grew to be acquired in the early 2000s.  And most of you know the work that has been done under the Cerado banner over the past eight-plus years.

So, it's now time for the next act.  I was offered a stellar opportunity to join folks like Scott Wilder, David Armano, Michael Brito, Steve Rubel and the rest of the industry-leading Edelman Digital team, working directly with clients to help them not only figure out their social and mobile strategies, but to also help them execute those strategies to connect with and build better relationships with their customers.  I accepted.

In some ways, it's going to be a bit of a change.  I've spent the last eight years as a pure, one-hundred-percent entrepreneur, and now I'm joining an organization that has thousands of other professionals.  On the other hand, with the conversations I've had with Scott and David and Michael and others, I truly get the feeling that the entrepreneurial spirit is a core part of the Edelman DNA.  The digital team, in particular, is growing rapidly, and a lot of the things I've learned over the last eight years in growing Cerado are going to be directly applicable in helping Edelman Digital to continue to grow and evolve.

I can't think of a better time to be joining Edelman.  A lot of the ideas that grew out of conversations here on the Social Customer blog that started back in 2004 (especially in the area of what's now being called "Social CRM") are reaching a mass audience.  Edelman is helping its clients understand these concepts and, more importantly, put them into practice.  I'm looking forward to digging in and helping them do so.

The Social Customer will continue, as well as my Twitter stream.

Seeya out there…

20 Responses to “I’m Joining the Edelman Digital Team”

  1. Mark Hornung May 24, 2010 at 9:43 am #

    Chris,
    Good luck to you and best wishes. Edelman is an excellent, innovative agency as you describe and they are lucky to have someone with your vision, intellect and wacky sense of humor on their team.

    Mark

  2. Chris Selland May 24, 2010 at 10:42 am #

    congrats and best of luck Christopher

  3. David Armano May 24, 2010 at 3:01 pm #

    Chris,

    Little known fact. Your blog is one of the first I began reading and one of the very first that I ever commented on. I consider it an honor to have you joining our team. Welcome to the family. I believe. ;-)

  4. Jeff Shuey May 24, 2010 at 3:05 pm #

    Congratulations on your new role. I look forward to seeing how you and the Edelman crew push the envelope forward with Social CRM. Being from the “traditional” CRM camp – I’m not quite sure the term Social CRM is properly applied. However, I’m optimistically looking forward to the work you and the Edelman team put forth the refine, perhaps re-define, the CRM industry.

  5. Louis Columbus May 24, 2010 at 5:17 pm #

    Chris,

    Congratulations! Your passion for helping companies transform customer experiences from OK to excellent is going to make a huge impact on Edelman clients I’m sure. It’s always great to see someone so passionate about what they do move forward.

    I wish you all the best and thanks for keeping the blog running too.

    Louis

  6. christopher carfi May 24, 2010 at 7:54 pm #

    Thank you, everyone, for the good wishes! Really looking forward to digging in.

  7. dave davison May 25, 2010 at 4:57 pm #

    with you and armano on the same team – it should be a great gig for you. Let’s keep in touch!

  8. Adam Shapiro May 27, 2010 at 7:42 am #

    Chris:

    Successful reinvention is a great quality – and you have proven it’s part of YOUR DNA. Sounds like a perfect fit for you.

    Wishing you the best!

  9. Paul Greenberg May 28, 2010 at 4:42 am #

    Congratulations, dude! Of course, its Edelman who should be congratulated too for getting you into the fold. You will make a giant difference there as you’ve made a giant difference in the area of social media, social networks and most especially, Social CRM. Plus you rock!!

  10. marianne richmond May 29, 2010 at 8:32 am #

    Just saw this….congratulations Chris and all the best. I agree with previous comment, they are very lucky to have you on board!
    Marianne

  11. christopher carfi May 29, 2010 at 9:41 am #

    dave, thank you! would love to get together soon!

  12. christopher carfi May 29, 2010 at 9:42 am #

    adam, wow. thank you for the good words. it really is going to be a blast evolving into this new role.

  13. christopher carfi May 29, 2010 at 9:43 am #

    paul, it looks like the SCRM summit was a blast. will call you today to catch up!

  14. christopher carfi May 29, 2010 at 9:43 am #

    marianne, thank you! will you be at blogher this year?

  15. George Baev May 31, 2010 at 10:34 pm #

    Congratulations, Chris!

  16. Marcy June 3, 2010 at 4:49 pm #

    Happy Trails to your new position!

  17. christopher carfi June 4, 2010 at 9:56 pm #

    george and marcy, thank you!

  18. Mark A Carbone June 7, 2010 at 8:37 pm #

    Chris,
    Congratulations. Having worked with you and seen your brain capacity and ability to fiter out the noise and get to the issues will make you a huge asset for Edelman!

    I’ve enjoyed learning from reading your writings and talking to you for 3 years now.

    Congrats!!

  19. christopher carfi June 7, 2010 at 8:57 pm #

    thanks, mark! i’m really finding the team outstanding so far.

  20. Lynne d Johnson August 11, 2010 at 11:49 am #

    Chris

    I just learned of this news at BlogHer from Peter Fasano. It’s great news. Congrats for you.

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