Tom Bedecarre is one of the most influential leaders in advertising today. Recently named "Silicon Valley's Favorite Adman" by Fortune Magazine, he was cited for being a rare hybrid who has cred with techies and Mad Men alike. He was also selected as 2013's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Media, Entertainment and Communications category.

Tom is currently Chairman of AKQA, the leading independent and most awarded digital agency. AKQA works with leading global brands and companies such as Audi, Delta, Google, Heineken, Nike, Target, Verizon Wireless, Visa and Xbox from its eight global offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Tom is also President of WPP Ventures, a new Silicon Valley-based company, which will explore new digital investment opportunities for WPP, the leading communications services group.

Tom has been an innovator and pioneer of the advertising and communications business over the last three decades. An enthusiastic entrepreneur, Ernst & Young named him "Entrepreneur of The Year" in Northern California for his leadership in the marketing services industry. Before AKQA, Tom was founder and CEO of Citron Haligman Bedecarre, San Francisco's largest independent advertising agency and a leader in launching Internet brands.

Tom holds a BA degree from Stanford University and an MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Advertising, Business Leadership, Technology, CEO, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Start-Up Founder, Business Founders, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Business, Social Media, Innovation, Creativity, Leadership,