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Durriya Kisat Gunja

847.414.4648 | durriyagunja@gmail.com

EXECUTIVE PROFILE • OPEN TO FULL-TIME

Where Brand Becomes Business Value

VP-level executive with 20+ years architecting brands, marketing systems, and creative ecosystems across retail, SaaS, healthcare, and entertainment — with the strategic, creative, and technological range to lead at every altitude.

VIEW PORTFOLIO
B2B TECHNOLOGY AND SAAS
01

CDK GLOBAL

WELLNOW · ASPEN GROUP

HEALTHCARE & REGULATED
02
03
ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA
 

REDBOX · CSS ENTERTAINMENT

04
RETAIL & CONSUMER
 

OFFICEMAX · OFFICEDEPOT

MIT HCI/UX CERTIFIED

AI-POWERED MARKETING
 
05

THE POSITION

Creative. Strategic. Technical.
Rarely all three.

Most executive searches separate creative direction from brand strategy from technology. I don't. I've spent 20+ years operating at the intersection — building the emotional architecture of a brand, the revenue machinery behind it, and the digital systems that scale it.

 

Whether the title is Chief Brand Strategy, Executive Creative Director, VP of Creative, or Head of AI-Enabled Marketing — the role I actually play is the same: I identify the gap between where a brand is and where it could be, and I close it. With strategy, with craft, with accountability to the bottom line.

 

At Redbox, with a small budget, I built the entire creative studio and navigated the brand through a historic digital transformation. At OfficeMax, the budget, the team and the expectations were big, I played a critical role in the rebrand and took a private label from 7% to 25% margin with 10 new premium brands. At CDK Global, I generated a 20% lift in sales conversions. At WellNow, working in a compliance-constrained environment, I realigned the vision and re-built the end-to-end patient journey from a patient lens. The context changes. The approach doesn't.

01

Creative Direction

I set the aesthetic standard and protect it. From brand identity and design systems to campaign creative and in-store experience — I direct work that earns attention, builds trust, and earns loyalty over time.

BRAND IDENTITY

ART DIRECTION

CONTENT STRATEGY

DESIGN SYSTEM

CAMPAIGN CREATIVE

03

Technology & AI

I am fluent in the systems that power modern marketing — from martech stacks and AI-assisted creative workflows to digital ecosystem architecture. MIT-certified in HCI/UX. Comfortable in the room where product and brand meet.

AI POWERED MARKETING

UX / HCI

MARKETING STRATEGY

DIGITAL ECOSYTEMS

DATA DRIVEN CREATIVE

02

Brand Strategy

I build brand as a revenue tool, not just a reputation one. Positioning, messaging architecture, demand generation, omni-channel marketing — all designed around a single emotional intent and measured against business outcomes.

POSITIONING

DEMAND GENERATION

B2B • B2C • DTC

GO-TO-MARKET

CRM + LOYALTY

WHAT I DO

7% to 25%

PRIVATE LABEL MARGIN LIFT
OFFICEMAX
TUL

20%

SALES CONVERSION LIFT
CDK GLOBAL
TRADESHOW

10% - 45%

DIGITAL OPT-IN
GROWTH
WELLNOW URGENT CARE

23/27

ENTERPRISE PIITCH
WINS
B2B SALES ENABLEMENT

VP, Brand Marketing and Creative Content

Led brand and communications strategy for monthly marketing and end-to-end patient journeys, inside a heavily regulated healthcare environment. Consolidated fragmented communications infrastructure, partnered with technology teams to implement consent and segmentation systems meeting compliance standards, refreshed brand standards with elevated designs and guidance led voice and tone, and grew digital opt-ins from 10% to 45%.

WELLNOW URGENT CARE

// HEALTHCARE

EXPERIENCE

CDK GLOBAL

// B2B SAAS

Sr. Director, Brand, Creative & Events

Built pitch materials, campaigns, and event presence that moved senior B2B stakeholders to action. Drove 23 wins from 27 enterprise pitches. Trade show activation delivered record client appointments and a 20% lift in sales conversions.

OFFICEMAX / OFFICE DEPOT

// RETAIL & ENTERPRISE B2B

Director, Brand Strategy & Creative

Led brand repositioning at enterprise scale. Launched TUL private label product line, elevating private brand margins from 7% to 25%. Built teams, designed retail concepts, and earned 30+ industry awards including Retail RAMA, Hermes, and Communicator.

VP, Brand, Creative & Content Development 

Built the in-house creative studio from a single-person operation. Led brand transformation through physical-to-digital pivot, including loyalty programs, IPO positioning, and eventual acquisition. Cut creative costs by 20% while growing output volume.

REDBOX / CSS ENTERTAINMENT

// ENTERTAINMENT

"Brand is not a layer. It is experienced. I build brands by defining emotional intent first, then designing every system around it."

- DURRIYA KISAT GUNJA

FULL CAPABILITIES

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

Guiding with growth mindset, promoting curiosity + process.

  • Executive Creative Direction

  • Brand Identity & Visual Systems

  • Art Direction & Production

  • Packaging & Product Design

  • Retail & Environmental Design

  • Fashion & Lifestyle Design

  • In-House Studio Development​

BRAND & MARKETING STRATEGY

Providing guidance, aligning creative strategy to business goals.

  • Brand Positioning & Architecture

  • Omni-Channel Campaign Strategy

  • Demand Generation (B2B & B2C)

  • Go-To-Market Planning

  • CRM, Loyalty & Retention

  • Content Strategy & Storytelling

  • Thought Leadership & PR

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Organizing and automating process for speed to market.

  • Human-Computer Interaction (MIT)

  • UX Strategy & Digital Experience

  • Martech Stack Optimization

  • Data-Informed Creative Strategy

  • Operations & Project Systems

  • Digital Ecosystem Architecture

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Leading with strong values, accountability and respect at all levels.

  • Cross-Functional Team Building

  • P&L Accountability

  • C-Suite Communication

  • Vendor & Agency Management

  • Kellogg MBA — Northwestern

  • Industry Panelist & Speaker

  • Mentor & Organizational Culture

WHAT LEADERS SAY

Durriya brings a holistic, strategic lens to brand expression. She combines creative conviction with business insight, elevating execution to experience. Her perspective is consistently sought out for its clarity, impact, and leadership.

CHUCK LUCKINBILL

VP Visual Merchandising, OfficeMax

Durriya is a rare brand leader who pairs creative excellence with sharp business acumen. She translates brand vision into meaningful business impact while building strong, trusted relationships across teams.

MARY CASPERSON

VP Marketing, OfficeMax

She is without a doubt one of the most talented, professional and personable people I have ever known. Durriya moved quickly up the ranks because she demonstrated remarkable talent and management skills. She is a star.

BOB THACKER

SVP Marketing, OfficeMax

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