Consulting Services

Understanding how the web changes the organisation of business and the business of organisation

• Gmail: DavidpCushman@gmail.com 
• Blog: http://fasterfuture.blogspot.com 
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/davidcushman 
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidcushman 
• Book: The Power of the Network 
• Phone: +44 (0)7736 353590

My services as a private consultant are available on a short term or by-the-day basis to brands, business and organisations.

My strength and experience is in helping companies understand and act on the impact of social media / the web on their organisation and its processes.

This manifests in designing processes and organisations for greater customer participation driven by digital and social media.

Companies are 50% more likely to outperform their rivals and grow sustainable profit following this approach, according to McKinsey.

Example activities:

Social Media Strategy Review or Development: Allow me to use my experience to assess the quality and fit with business purpose of your current social media strategy for immediate enhancement or refocus. Or ask me to create your top-level vision from scratch. 

Senior Team Workshop: To identify how ready your organisation is to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world – one which demands ever greater connectedness, openness and meaningful relationships with customers. Assessed against key principles. Goal states and gaps identified.

Process Design: Where and how are your processes customer-led? How could you build efficient and effective participation/insight through social media? Applies to processes from recruitment to marketing communications, new product development to executive decision making. #

Business modelling consultancy: When developing a new business concept, are you building it with the principles of the new networked economy in mind? Straight-forward advice to reduce the risk of being beaten by more digitally and socially savvy rivals now or in the future.

Marcomms campaign design and evaluation: Engage me directly to help your teams design marcomms campaigns and plans to succeed in today’s peer-to-peer landscape.

Project team support: Effectively acting as a short-term non exec to apply my experience and know-how where required in your business at its points of current and greatest need.

Please contact me directly for day rates and discounts on  ‘bulk bookings’ and retainers.

Bookings made before the end of October 2012 receive a further 20% discount

I look forward to working with you shortly.

My Experience

I understand how the web and its networks impact the way organisations could and should do business – from the way messaging is created and flows through networks to how value is created with communities of consumer/partners.

I believe adapting to its impact delivers a better fit with a world demanding ever greater connectedness, openness and meaningful relationships with customers.

I also have 20+ years experience in media: from print and radio to digital and mobile to social media.

My most recent role is as Managing Director/Co-Founder at 90:10 Group – a boutique multinational social business consultancy where he has been jointly responsible for generating revenues of £3.5m from scratch while developing both the market, and the products to service it.

Previous to the launch of 90:10 Group (October 2009) my previous roles included Director of Social Media at a full service social media agency and Digital Development Director at Bauer Media.

I am a current member of the Financial Times’ Judgment Call panel – and a regular contributor to that column in print and online. I have been described as one of the world’s finest marketers by E-Consultancy.

I am well connected and have worked with brands including Mastercard, the Bauer Consumer Media portfolio (from FHM to Motorcycle News), Honda (Europe) in cars, motorcycles, racing, pr, marketing and digital marketing, Tesco, The Co-operative, Bupa, Sony-Ericsson, Unilever, The Guardian, First Capital Connect, Tata, Rolex, Visit Britain, City & Guilds, Mars, The UK Borders Agency, Unilever, First Capital Connect The DfT (he has also advised the UK Cabinet Office on innovating using social media strategies), and with agencies including Grey (London), Starcomm, Crayon and a host of PR and digital agencies.

My blog is ranked among the UK's Top 20 by Adage.com – 2^nd in the UK for Social Tech by Cision.
This reflects his deep understanding of the emerging dominance of communities and how brands, companies, organisations and messages can adapt to a rapidly changing world.

I have authored a series of widely-respected white papers on these subjects which are now available as a critically acclaimed book: The Power of the Network.

My next work The 10 Principles of Open Business – Building Success in Today’s Open Economy, is due for imminent release with a major publisher.

I am regularly invited to speak around the world and I have presented in London, New York, Berlin, Hannover, Cannes, Cork and Brussells. Watch video of his recent keynote at CeBIT in Hannover, Germany,here.(http://fasterfuture.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/video-webciety-cebit-keynote-how-web.html)

“David is a real expert... who's always at the forefront of innovation and who helps his clients constantly think outside the box. He is also really nice to work with and I would recommend him any day!” 

Sandrine Desbarbieux

Marketing Director, Bupa

“David is an outstanding expert in the world of social and digital. He helps simplify the area, making it easy for others to get into this space by having the right level of techno-geekiness and personality.”

Gareth Helm Marketing Director, Mars petcare

 “Few have what David has [1] a deep understanding of existing business and [2] a clear vision of where business can go in the light of the significant challenges of the digital world."
Alan Moore CEO - SMLXL Author: Communities Dominate Brands.

Current and previous roles

Managing Director 90:10 Group

October 2009 – Present

Co-founder of this boutique international social business consultancy. Instrumental in generating rapid growth to £3.5 million of revenue, from scratch, in an entirely new market.

Board-level responsibilities including market analysis, new product development, new business development, full P&L responsibility, team leadership, project management and delivery.

Non-Executive Director Tribewanted

June 2012 – Present

Providing NED services to support Tribewanted on its mission to build sustainable communities in amazing places.

Member of Board of Trustees CitizensOnline.org

May 2009 – Present

Serving in a voluntary capacity to try to make sure no one is left behind as the digital revolution enables communities of purpose to self-organize and create value that matters to them.

Director of Social Media Brando Social

October 2008 – September 2009 (1 year)

Director of Social Media at BrandoSocial; working on everything from social media education and training, listening and response, strategy and fulfilment, right up to and including cultural change.
I also led our consulting division Brando Social Consult

Digital Development Director  Bauer Consumer Media  

August 2007 – October 2008 (1 year 3 months)

I operated as an internal consultant and thought led with the following purposes:

1. Evangelise the (revenue and idea generating) power of the network with the emerging effect that the company functions in a more networked way - leading to the delivery of more product launches, reinventions and acquisitions which are fit for the future.

2. Seek, see and share future business opportunities.

3. Quality assure big ideas across the business - Operating at the What (strategic) level. Heavier involvement defined/driven ONLY by the benefits to Job Purpose Summary 1.

1987-2007: Variety of senior roles in journalism and publishing in traditional and digital media including launching and editing a PPA-award-winning consumer media website (motorcyclenews.com)

Specialties: Creating innovation and sustainable efficiencies using social technologies, platform thinking and social business design. Strategic planning for brands and the media industries, mobile internet strategy, digital community and social media strategy, understanding and deploying the power of the network, scoping digital projects, managing teams, delivering launches on time and on budget, being alive to change.