“No task is beneath me, and no challenge is beyond me — I believe in stretching beyond comfort zones to embrace meaningful, high-impact opportunities.”
Bob Gerardi is a transformational leader whose career spans more than 25 years at the intersection of technology, marketing, and business strategy. Guided by his personal mantra—“Nothing is beneath me, and nothing is above me”—Bob has consistently navigated complex corporate environments with humility, drive, and vision. His journey reflects a rare ability to scale innovation and influence across both Fortune 500 enterprises and agile startup ecosystems. From engineering beginnings to executive boardrooms, Bob has forged a leadership path built on adaptability, insight, and a relentless pursuit of value creation.
Bob’s foundation in electrical engineering, with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and Syracuse University respectively, set the tone for a career deeply rooted in systems thinking and technical precision. He began at General Electric, where he contributed to the development of submarine combat and navigation systems, including advanced simulation tools for the U.S. Navy’s Seawolf program. These early years honed his ability to manage complexity, innovate within constraints, and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
Following his time at GE, Bob joined Xerox, where he spent nearly a decade working across product development, engineering, software integration, and competitive market intelligence. At Xerox, he developed a broader commercial acumen and emerged as a trusted leader who could fuse technology with go-to-market strategy. He gained valuable experience in managed services and customer segmentation, which would later become pivotal in his transition from engineering to marketing leadership.
Bob’s transition to Duke Energy marked a turning point, as he assumed responsibility for a cutting-edge initiative in powerline communications—a bold venture aimed at delivering broadband services via the energy grid. As Director of Powerline Communications, he led the development, marketing, regulatory strategy, and commercialization of this initiative, demonstrating his capacity to lead innovation at scale while balancing risk, compliance, and profitability. This role spotlighted his growing proficiency in aligning emerging technologies with real-world applications.
Bob’s leadership trajectory accelerated during his tenure at RSM US LLP, where he served in several executive roles, including Chief Business Process and Technology Officer and eventually Chief Marketing Officer. His dual expertise in IT and marketing allowed him to spearhead large-scale digital transformation projects, integrate CRM and marketing automation systems, and introduce Six Sigma-driven process improvements that elevated efficiency and client engagement. He also helped develop the firm’s enterprise social network and rolled out mobile technologies across the workforce—modernizing infrastructure and internal communications alike.
During a brief but impactful period at MUFG Americas, Bob served as Principal Consultant, helping the financial institution refine its marketing operations through technology implementation and performance optimization. This consulting role reflected his growing influence as a thought leader in the professional services space, trusted by executive teams to assess, design, and implement strategic programs across departments and geographies.
Bob’s most defining chapter came at Stout Risius Ross, LLC, where he served as the firm’s first Chief Marketing Officer from 2014 to 2024. Over the course of a decade, he architected and executed a multi-year marketing strategy that redefined the firm’s brand identity and directly fueled revenue growth. Under his leadership, brand awareness rose from 44% to 77%, and marketing-sourced revenue reached $22 million in 2024 alone, yielding a 6X return on investment. Bob’s initiatives included the launch of a new corporate website, a pioneering e-commerce platform for financial services, and strategic sponsorships with PGA, LPGA, and ATP athletes—creative ventures that expanded the firm’s presence in key markets.
Throughout his career, Bob has demonstrated a remarkable ability to operate across silos, bringing together teams from IT, marketing, product development, and operations to solve enterprise challenges. He is a Lean Six Sigma expert who understands the granular details of business process improvement, yet he thrives equally in high-level strategy discussions about growth, customer acquisition, and brand positioning. His multi-industry experience spans financial services, consulting, energy, and professional services, with a proven record of results in both domestic and international contexts.
A lifelong learner and innovator, Bob holds a U.S. patent for a system that manages device access via embedded job stream protocols—a testament to his technical ingenuity. His thought leadership has been recognized in published industry research, including contributions to Gartner’s report, The CIO Challenge: Transforming Adversity into Advantage. Though not currently serving on formal boards, Bob has held executive team board roles in multiple organizations and consulted with private equity firms, providing guidance on growth strategies in the professional services sector.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bob is a committed volunteer and global citizen. He and his wife sponsor a child in Kenya through the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, maintaining regular correspondence and support. He also volunteers with Food Rescue US, addressing hunger and food waste. Bob is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, and golf—activities that reflect his appreciation for balance, discipline, and resilience.
Now, as he enters the next chapter of his journey, Bob is actively seeking board opportunities where he can lend his broad expertise in marketing, technology, and strategic growth to organizations in the startup and middle-market space. With his background in both engineering and business, and a value-driven leadership style, he is ideally positioned to help companies navigate change, scale sustainably, and achieve their full potential.
Character:
Bob is a grounded, values-driven leader whose humility and dedication are matched by a fierce work ethic. His motto—“Nothing is beneath me, and nothing is above me”—underscores a mindset of service, continuous learning, and fearless responsibility.
Knowledge:
With advanced degrees in engineering and product development, and a rich career that spans multiple industries, Bob brings technical mastery and strategic depth to every role. His knowledge base is both broad and specialized, making him an asset in complex decision-making environments.
Strategic:
Bob has a demonstrated track record of transforming vision into actionable strategy, particularly in high-growth and transitional business environments. His ability to align marketing, technology, and operations has generated significant revenue and brand equity for the companies he has led.
Communication:
An articulate and persuasive communicator, Bob excels in executive settings, client engagement, and cross-functional leadership. His storytelling ability—rooted in data, empathy, and clarity—has consistently galvanized teams and inspired trust.