Gerd Leonhard is a Futurist, Author, and the CEO of The Futures Agency. He is considered a thought leader and global influencer in media/content, technology, marketing, communications, telecom, and culture, consulting many leading global companies. Co-author of the influential book ‘The Future of Music’ (2005, Berklee Press), author of ‘Music2.0’ (2008), ‘The End of Control’ (2007) and 'The Future of Content' (2011), Gerd's background is in music. In 1985 he won the Quincy Jones Award and subsequently graduated from Boston's Berklee College of Music (1987). Since 2002, following a decade as digital media entrepreneur and start-up CEO, Gerd speaks at conferences and seminars around the globe on the Future of Media, Technology, Business, Advertising, Telecom, Communications, Big Data, Culture, and Sustainability.
!Gerd’s diverse client list includes Nokia, Google, Sony-BMG, Telkom Indonesia, Siemens, Kuoni, RTL, ITV, the BBC, France Telecom/Orange, Deutsche Telekom, Sanoma, The Guardian, Sony Ericsson, The Financial Times, DDB, Omnicom, the European Commission, Nokia Siemens Networks and many others.
!A strategic advisor and a fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (London), Gerd delivers hard-hitting and provocative keynotes, presentations and think tanks with an inspiring, motivational style. With engagements in 43 countries since 2003, Gerd has addressed over 250'000 professionals, and is considered a key influencer. An internationally recognized speaker, Gerd lives in Basel, Switzerland, and on airplanes.