Awards
Retail Innovator of the Year (2014)
Mobile Commerce Evangelist (2013)
Macromedia People’s Choice Award
Geraldine Dodge Innovation Award
6-time winner of Tech FAST 50
Industry Roles
MOBILE ECOSYSTEM FORUM
Chair Emeritus / Director of Distinction
INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING BUREAU
Chair Emeritus / Industry Excellence Award
LOCATION BASED MARKETING ASS.
Global Director
CANADIAN LENDERS ASSOCIATION
President
He was born in Zambia and spent much of his youth in mining towns across central Africa. Gary is alumnus of Columbia University in New York and the Stanford University Center in Yokohama, where he was the recipient of the Asia and Japan Foundation Fellowship.
Gary began his career as a columnist in Japan and later became an anchor on Asahi Television. After working with UNICEF and the World Bank, Gary moved to the private sector where he has run a number of technology start ups.
Gary is a six-time recipient of the Deloitte Fast 50 award. Over the past 25 years, he has funded and operated a number of companies in the adtech, healthtech, fintech, social media, automotive and blockchain verticals. Gary is an award-winning author specializing in commerce and payment. Gary is the Founder and President of the Canadian Lenders Association and the Global Director of the Location Based Marketing Association.
Gary has published “THE IMPULSE ECONOMY” and “FAST SHOPPER, SLOW STORE” with Simon & Schuster, Atria Imprint in New York City. Gary is presently writing a book on the 4th Industrial Revolution called “IF THINGS COULD SPEAK”.
Gary has consulted and developed solutions with companies including Unilever, Estee Lauder Companies, Coca Cola Corporation, ConAgra Foods Inc and Mondelez International.
He is the recipient of the Macromedia People Choice Award, Retail Touchpoints Customer Engagement Award, as well as the Dodge Foundation Award for innovation. Gary is an Asia and Japan Foundation Fellow. In 2013, Gary was recognized by Mobile Marketer publication as the “Mobile Commerce Evangelist of the Year” and in 2014 was awarded the “Retail Innovator of the Year.”
In 2002, Gary ran the first cross-carrier short code campaign in North America. In 2006, Gary founded and chaired mobile committee for the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) helping to establish a joint task force between the IAB, Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) and the Media Rating Council (MRC) to develop global, auditable mobile advertisement measurement standards for which he received an IAB award for industry excellence in 2009. Gary was elected for three terms as the Chairman of MEF North America with a remit to develop a mobile commerce practice to service payment vendors, retailers and content owners for which he received a MEF award for industry excellence in 2010.
Gary is alumnus of Columbia University in New York and the Stanford University Center in Yokohama, where he was the recipient of the Asia and Japan Foundation Fellowships.