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HistoryVersantHughes, Ruch and Murphy AdvertisingHughes-Ruch AdvertisingJim Hughes Advertising
LinkedIn /in/willruch Twitter @willruch
Facebook /[email protected]
What most interests you about the branding, advertising & marketing business?It just keeps changing... evolving. Every year has been an adventure and no two years or clients are alike. The energy that comes from creating work that connects with customers and their talent is exciting, even when things don’t go as planned. I'm known for saying, “it's never dull!” It never has been.
What's the most important thing you've learned about the brand business?Relevancy. We must make every aspect of a brand and campaign relevant and authentic. And we must do that not just for our clients and their customers, but also for their employees, because employees create the experiences for customers.
What do you like about owning your own agency?The reporting structure to clients - they are my bosses. It’s the way the world was meant to be for me. We partner and collaborate with our clients really well. We know we don’t have all the answers. Every client is a gift (well most anyway).
What does Versant mean?Versant is: Versatile. Conversant. That means we adapt quickly to changing client needs and market conditions.
I spent twenty years working to get my name on the door. In 1986 it was Hughes-Ruch Advertising and then Hughes, Ruch & Murphy. In 2000, it was time to re-conceive the business. So I spent thousands of dollars to take my name off the door and created Versant, a new brand.
What's the future look like?Digital. Strategic. Creative. Cost conscious. Data driven. Revenue driven. Fast. Fun. Balanced (so work remains rewarding). In short, the “experience” is everything today. I'm grateful to be a part of the future.
Why did you write a book?An advisor told me it was the best calling card you could create. So I partnered with a trusted, really smart client at Xerox (Pat Nazemetz, CHRO) to co-author a book about something we both feel passionate about - the importance of talent. Voila - we wrote HR and Marketing Power Partners.
What is ngage?ngage is an app that creates continuous workplace connections that make work better. In 2015, four of us with long-standing connections created ngage to improve employee engagement. ngage is a natural, fun and easy way to capture employee feedback. Our goal is to replace the traditional annual engagement survey (1.6B market). We're off to a good start. Now I'm in the app business!
“We must make our brands relevant and authentic.”
FunFactsFavorite Brands: CNN, Netflix & Apple.
Can't Miss: Dinner and watching re-runs of “The Godfather”.
Family: Three daughters and a son. My wife Marilynn owns a retail
store & consults.
What I most liked about college: Hosting a TV show.
Hobbies: I like all things outdoors, especially biking and winter
activities in northern Wisconsin.
Favorite app: ngage.
Will Ruch, CEO / Strategic Lead at Versant, brings a client-centric approach to Versant’s business. Whether it’s developing strategy for high-impact branding and advertising, creating marketing campaigns or helping companies attract and engage employees, Will drives results.
Meet Will Ruch
Will’s community involvement includes current board positions with the Neighborhood House, Association for Corporate Growth and The Guest House, and previously with the Milwaukee Ballet. He also shares his expertise with United Way, United Performing Arts Fund and Junior Achievement.
