Catalyst Employee Spotlight: Jim Kensicki

You can have the best data and most sophisticated tools, but it doesn’t mean anything without great people. Fortunately, at Catalyst, we have no shortage of great people. From Search Associates to Search Directors, and from Project Managers to Managing Partners, each member of the Catalyst team is committed to maximizing client business results and making Catalyst a world-class agency. Read our Employee Spotlight series to meet some of the team members responsible for making Catalyst an all-star agency partner and a great place to work.

Meet Jim

Name: Jim Kensicki

Title: Managing Director, Search and Social

How long have you worked at Catalyst?

I have been working at Catalyst for four years.

How long have you worked in search/social and what type of clients have you worked on? 

Since 2001 – 18 Years.  I’ve worked across nearly every vertical and industry – in-house and agency – but currently focus on our more complex, global strategies.

How did you get your start in search/social?

I got my start in digital marketing in high school – I built an online mortgage lead generation website during my junior year.  It was at the start of the mortgage boom in the early 2000s, and it really took off. The business was acquired by a competing agency in 2002, where I followed to run their B2B digital channels for 7 years before they were acquired.

What do you like most about working at Catalyst?

The people. I’m surrounded by the smartest people in our industry. Some of which brands spend thousands to hear speak at events, and I get to sit next to them and ask them questions all day long. I learn something from them every single day – it’s truly a privilege. 

What has been your greatest achievement or success in search/social?

The success of the clients I work with is what drives me. It’s a lot of fun knowing your approach and hard work played a role in meaningfully changing their business. It’s equally fun watching some of the more junior members of our performance team become rock stars. Did I mention we have the smartest people working here?

In your opinion, what is the most important search/social trend or change for 2019?

The pendulum has quickly swung in the other direction as it relates to consumer privacy. This is going to mean more challenges stitching audience data to together to reach consumers across channels. Companies will need to invest more in 1^st party data and revisit processes and technology as it relates to their marketing stack to ensure they are setup for success.

If you had to give one recommendation to an advertiser who wants to use search or social marketing to achieve business results, what would it be?

Don’t go it alone. Start by working with your own stakeholders to really understand their needs and commercial objectives – you’re going to need them. Then work with a partner that can help you connect your online marketing activity to those business outcomes.

Share a fun fact about yourself

I have a 2 year-old Pomeranian named Tyrion Hufflepuff.

Why Jim Makes us Proud

“Jim is an absolutely integral member of the Catalyst team. He is an inspiring leader for our teams, a trusted advisor for our clients, and a key driver of our organization’s success.”– Beth LeTendre, CEO, Catalyst