Michael Birkin

Michael Birkin (born Lancaster, England July 16, 1958) is a British marketing strategist, brand expert and global businessman. In February 2010, Birkin created Red Peak Group, a global marketing services firm with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and London. 1. He is also the founder of BKN Partners, a New York-based holding company of marketing services and events agencies.2.

Early years
Son of Sir Derek Birkin and Lady Sadie Birkin, second of their two children. A member of the England Under 19 Squash Squad and ranked as No. 5 player in the U.K. Graduated from Marlborough College, UK and University College, London, where he studied law.

Career
After earning his degree, Birkin joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers, where he became a Qualified Chartered Accountant. From there, he became personal assistant to Sir Mark Weinberg, chairman of Hambro Life Assurance (now Zurich Life Assurance). While at Hambro, Birkin met John Murphy, founder of Novamark/Interbrand 3., and in 1986 joined Murphy to develop the global branding consultancy, Interbrand Group, as Group Chief Executive 4.. While CEO at Interbrand, Birkin helped build an international, multi-office consultancy and took a leading role in the creation and marketing of the Interbrand Brand Valuation model.

Following the acquisition of Interbrand by Omnicom Group in 1993 5., Birkin moved from Interbrand to oversee Omnicom’s Diversified Agency Services Division [http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/63434/PROFILE-collector---MICHAEL-BIRKIN-GLOBAL-PRESIDENT-OMNICOM-DAS/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH%20 6. ], of which he ultimately became Worldwide President in 1999. From 2005 until leaving Omnicom Group, Birkin was Vice Chairman of the company as well as Chairman and CEO of Omnicom Asia-Pacific.7. In that role, he implemented and oversaw Omnicom's expansion in the region through acquisition and organic growth.

In 2009, Birkin resigned from Omnicom to return to his entrepreneurial roots with the purchase of a majority stake in RPMC, an experiential and sponsorship marketing agency. [http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=112572%20 8. ] RPMC is now part of Red Peak Group following the creation by Birkin of a New York-based branding and design consultancy of the same name. The company has offices in New York, London, Chicago and Los Angeles.1.

From Oct. 2012, Birkin join Acer as the CMO to transform Taiwan-based PC maker as a branding company.

Additional activities
Board member of the NSPCC's ChildLine; involved with the charity for over 25 years.11. Independent Director of You On Demand as of May 29, 2012

Personal
Married to Katrina Gear in 2001; one child. Previously married to Anna-Mei Chadwick in 1985; three children.