David Kincaid
Founder & Chair
“Brands are the most misunderstood and underleveraged assets on companies' balance sheets.”
Professional Bio
As the Founder of Level5, David has had the opportunity to build a firm dedicated to creating value for client partners’ most important asset: their brand. This has provided David with a unique insight into a global range of market sectors. As a result, he has been able to work alongside progressive, brand-driven business leaders in creating and delivering brands that have been successful financially, socially, and culturally.
David’s rich corporate and consulting experience allows him to thrive in uncovering provocative insight and potential – in people, brands, and businesses. He has a proven strategic business sense and is both a world-class communicator and facilitator.
Entrepreneurs, business professionals, and students want to hear what David has to say. He is a frequent lecturer and speaker at Canada’s leading business schools and conferences – David is an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at both the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and the Schulich Executive Education Centre at York University. He has published three books: The Brand-Driven CEO, The Value of a Promise Consistently Kept, and Brand Forward, Brand Back. In 2013, he was honoured for his outstanding work and contributions by being inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Marketing Hall of Legends.
David loves music, golf, and travelling with his family, where together they can laugh and learn.
Previous Experience
- CMO at Corus Entertainment, where he helped set the organization’s corporate vision, values, and positioning
- SVP Marketing and Strategic Planning at Labatt, where he led the company’s expansion into the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean – with successful turnaround and launches of brands such as Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Alexander Keith’s
- Senior brand management roles at American Express and General Foods
Education
David received his BA (Hons) in Political Studies at Queen’s University and has studied Strategic Leadership at the Kellogg School of Business.
