Ion L.-Communication Strategy · Creative Concepts · Storytelling · Photography & Documentary Film
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Experience
„Vergeben und vergessen?“ (2025)
Personal Project
Concept and delivery of a German-Greek project about remembrance of the occupation of Kefalonia and the question of forgiveness, funded by the Federal Foreign Office and the German-Greek Future Fund. All materials are designed for use in the classroom.
- Eyewitness film featuring interviews with survivors, with subtitles translated into German
- Animated short film „Vergeben“ as a starting point for discussion in school classes
- Teaching materials for educators: lesson plan, worksheets, timelines, collection of quotes
- Social media campaign for Instagram and TikTok that reaches young people and points them to the teaching materials: trailer, video snippets, quote tiles, captions and hashtags
Brand Strategy and Destination Marketing, German Market
Kefalonia Tourism Board
Task: Develop positioning and a marketing strategy for the destination Kefalonia, with the aim of growing the German market.
Solution:
- Developed a brand image for the destination Kefalonia
- Defined the brand essence
- Developed the claim „You’ll want to stay forever“ and the logo
- Maintained a regular presence at tourism trade fairs in Germany
- Extensive PR work for the German market
- Presence at B2B events for travel agencies
- Reached out to airlines
Results:
- Significant increase in visitor numbers from Germany since 2020
- Expanded direct flights from Germany from one route (2020) to six per week
- Press coverage in all national German daily newspapers
- 45-minute TV documentary about Kefalonia on ARD’s regional channels
- Increased number of Kefalonia packages offered by German tour operators
Director
Edelman GmbH
- Managed major clients, including Unilever, Barilla and Dubai Tourism
- Contributed to international projects
- Leadership Edelman Germany
Managing Partner
Straub & Linardatos GmbH
- Founded and built the agency with 25 employees; positioned it as „Success through Contrast“
- Managed accounts for major companies and brands, including E-Plus, Deutsche Fernsehlotterie and Deutsche BKK
- Developed annual strategies for Alice/HanseNet, Hamburg Airport and eco – Verband der Internetwirtschaft, among others
- Campaigns included „Tablets für Senioren“ (E-Plus), „5 macht fit“ (Deutsche BKK) and „Wattwiki“ (Die Nordsee GmbH)
- Led creative work (PR, graphic design, social media); built a blended digital/content team based on the newsroom model
- Created an in-house training program for all levels and the creativity program „Inspirations“
- 10 awards (including PR-Report Awards, Deutscher PR-Preis, Deutscher Preis für Wirtschaftskommunikation) and more than 10 further nominations
- Network of strategic partners, including a media agency, advertising agency, film production company and CSR agency
Member of the Executive Team, Head of Brand PR
Bönig & Yamaoka International PR GmbH
- Grew the agency by winning pitches for key accounts, including Mars, M&M’s, Snickers and Southern Comfort
- Main point of contact for Mars, Reemtsma and Bacardi
- Developed and led the European promotion „West in Space“
- Created the new business formats „B&Y Talks“ and „One idea for free!“
Consultant
MMK – Markt- und Medienkommunikation
- Promoted from trainee to consultant after three months, after winning a key account
- Brands included Marlboro, Quix, Premiere Sport (now Sky Sport)
Editor
Athener Zeitung und Sport Mikrofon
- Germany correspondent for the German-language Athener Zeitung (politics, society, culture, sports)
- Sports journalist at Sport Mikrofon (from 10/1991)
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Advertising, Banking and Finance, Insurance, Information Technology, Telecommunication, and Food and Beverage.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Marketing, Strategy, Human Resources, Sales, Customer Service, and Project Management.
Summary
Over 30 years of experience in strategy, PR and creative work. I founded and led a communications agency in Hamburg with 25 employees, was a Director at Edelman and have worked as a freelancer from Greece since 2020 for agencies, brands and tourism organizations. My strength is the creative core idea: I develop positioning, claims and stories that stick in the market, and bring them to life in words, images and film with an experienced partner network. Most recently, this led to a documentary featuring eyewitness accounts about Kefalonia.
Skills
- Strategy And Positioning: Brand Image, Claim, Communications Strategy, Corporate, Brand And Product Pr
- Creative Concepts And Storytelling: Campaign Ideas, Content Concepts, Storytelling For Film And Documentaries
- Film And Photography: Concept Development, Direction And Production With Partners; Photography
- Agency Know-How: New Business, Pitches, Team Building And Leadership, Controlling, Interim Management And Coaching
- Software: Ms Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook)
Languages
Education
Universität Hamburg
Politics and Sociology · Hamburg, Germany
Das Rauhe Haus
Training as an Elderly Care Worker · Elderly Care Worker · Hamburg, Germany
Gymnasium von Platen
Abitur · High School · Hamburg, Germany
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Ion speaks the following languages: German (Native), Greek (Advanced), English (Advanced).
Ion has at least 36 years of experience. During this time, Ion has worked in at least 7 different roles and for 7 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 5 years and 1 month. Note that Ion may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Ion would be well-suited for roles such as: „Vergeben und vergessen?“ (2025), Brand Strategy and Destination Marketing, German Market, Director.
Ion's most recent position is „Vergeben und vergessen?“ (2025) at Personal Project.
In recent years, Ion has worked for Personal Project and Kefalonia Tourism Board.
Ion is most experienced in industries like Advertising, Banking and Finance, and Insurance. Ion also has some experience in Information Technology, Telecommunication, and Food and Beverage.
Ion is most experienced in business areas like Marketing, Strategy, and Human Resources. Ion also has some experience in Sales, Customer Service, and Project Management.
Ion has recently worked in industries like Tourism, Education, and Media and Entertainment.
Ion has recently worked in business areas like Marketing and Strategy.
Ion holds a Bachelor in Politics and Sociology from Universität Hamburg.
Ion is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.
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