About
Robert Steers: twenty years running the functions that bring in revenue.
I’ve led marketing at Deloitte Australia and TSA Riley, built an agency from nothing, and directed growth work for hundreds of businesses at Step Change. I now work as a consultant and non-executive director.
What I bring
I’ve carried the P&L
Director and P&L owner at my own agency, Creative Development, and P&L responsibility as head of digital and CRM, then director, at Step Change. Trained in the language and tools of financial analysis.
I’ve run the function
Global marketing and revenue functions of 30 people at Deloitte Australia and TSA Riley, across brand, CRM, search, paid media, analytics, bids and business development.
I build the tools
I write Python, JavaScript and PHP, work in R and machine learning, and build AI-based software for mapping, social ranking and content production in my spare time.
Board and governance
Board and NED work
I offer boards independent judgement on growth, customers and digital, from someone who has carried revenue targets, owned P&Ls and runs businesses of his own. Marketing is often one of the largest discretionary costs a board approves, and one of the hardest for it to question. I help a board ask the right questions of it.
- 2023–2024
- Non-executive director, Manly Warringah Gymnastics Club
- 2018–2019
- Board member, Australian Transformation and Turnaround Association, responsible for growth and marketing
- 2019
- Judge, AMY Awards for the Australian digital industry
- 2013–2016
- Governance at Deloitte: member of the Social Capital committee governing the firm’s social media use; owner of vendor due diligence sign-off, including legal and compliance
- Ongoing
- Owner-operator of an audiology practice and a hi-fi distribution business
- Training
- Financial analysis; certified transformation professional
Career
Where I’ve worked
- 2024–now
- Consultant, Creative Development. Brand, strategy, paid media, CRM and digital for growing companies.
- 2020–2024
- Head of Marketing, then General Manager, TSA Riley. Led the global marketing, bids and business development function and the rebrand from TSA Management.
- 2016–2020
- Head of Digital and CRM, then Director, Step Change. Growth strategy, digital transformation and go-to-market work for clients from a mining association to online retailers.
- 2013–2016
- Head of Digital Marketing and CRM, Deloitte Australia. A team of 30 across Sydney and Hyderabad.
- 2007–2013
- Director, Creative Development. Grew the agency from zero, working with brands including Jeep, Benetton, LJ Hooker and Grays Online.
- 2005–2007
- Marketing Manager, WSROC Training & Employment. Marketing and a five-person sales team for an RTO, employment agency and charity.
- 2000–2005
- Marketing Manager, Printing Solutions, Konica Minolta. Channel marketing across Australia and New Zealand, as the company grew into the third-largest laser printer maker in Australia.
- Education
- Bachelor of Business, International Business, University of Technology Sydney
Speaking and writing
On the record
I speak on customer centricity, digital transformation, marketing and leadership.
- Speaker: Out of the box marketing
- What makes a CMO?
- What do CEOs care about for growth in 2018
- What do Aussies want from ride-hail apps?
- Are mailing lists worth the risk
Outside work I coach football and hold a C licence.
Bring your last quarter’s numbers.
We’ll work out what’s earning its keep, what’s stuck and what to stop funding.