andris pone
brand coach, partner

Andris provides strategic thinking and exceptional writing to Instinct clients. He attended Saint Mary's University in Halifax and graduated summa cum laude in 1995 with a degree in Political Science. The next year he moved to Toronto and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's most Brand- and client service-oriented organizations. At one of their great icons, the 1,400-room Fairmont Royal York, Andris worked in a variety of guest-facing capacities, learning that every client contact is an encounter that either creates or destroys Brand equity.

Moving on to Fairmont's corporate office, Andris managed procurement for one of the most important projects in the company's 120-year history — the rebranding of the organization from the legendary Canadian Pacific Hotels.

Following the successful completion of that project, Andris enrolled in the MBA program at the Schulich School of Business, York University, and graduated in 2003 with specializations in Marketing and Strategic Management.

Andris joined Instinct in 2006 from Brandovers, the Brand strategy and execution firm he founded the previous year. Andris’ client list at Brandovers included Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, NuComm International and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. At Instinct, he has worked with Purolator, Macquarie Financial, Bombardier Regional Aircraft, Investment Planning Counsel, KingSett Capital, Strata Health, York Central Hospital, Invis, Revera, Canadian Tire and The Richard Ivey School of Business.

Andris has appeared as a Brand analyst on the Business News Network, contributes to instincts, this firm’s monthly newsletter, and is co-author of Ted Matthews’ new book, Brand: It Ain't the Logo* (*It's what people think of you™). He is a frequent speaker on the topic of Brand, most recently appearing in Banff for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and was a judge for working.com’s 2008 Employer of Choice Marketing Awards.

In his spare time, Andris is Starbucks' biggest client and Brand fan, an aficionado of trendy Toronto eateries and a budding patron of the performing arts. He is proud to volunteer his Branding and writing skills to Street Kids International.