Michael Donovan is an award-winning leader who cares about building customer value and long-term business success. Best known as CEO of DONOVAN., one of Canada's most awarded, independent branding and advertising agencies, his business interests have branched out to include supporting, sponsoring, and mentoring MNE and SME clients around the world with the benchmark analysis, strategies and positional solutions they need to drive topline and margin growth. Backed by consumer behaviour research, Michael’s creative strategies and marketing solutions immediately grow and sustain new business.
Michael’s strategic vision, copywriting, and creative work has been widely recognized with over 50 international awards for organizational innovation, marketing effectiveness and branding. Notably by the American Library Association, with their top North American award for re-branding the Edmonton Public Library; an international Urban Library Council prize for organizational innovation; a sweep of the World Routes Awards for effective and innovative marketing of the Edmonton International Airport; the Airports Council International’s top award three years running; and reviews in USA Today and Airport World for innovations in marketing and advertising. Michael is past winner of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Owner of the Year Award. In 2012, he was honoured with Edmonton Economic Development’s Recognition Award, for bringing “sustained, positive international awareness to Edmonton.”
He has built many profitable business strategies and solutions for organizations like the Mariash Group of Companies, Finning, Waterous Power Systems (now Wajax), Opus Stewart Weir, Associated Engineering, Voxcom, Coast Hotels and Resorts, Dominator Clothing, Pelican Products, Alberta Distance Leaning Centre, the Edmonton International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Hamilton International Airport, LAZ Parking USA, Athabasca University, the Edmonton Public Library, The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), the University of Alberta School of Medicine, the government of Alberta (multiple portfolios), Plumbers & Pipefitters Union, tourism, aviation, social marketing, public relations and political campaigns, and economic development initiatives.
Michael is involved in the international business community, mentoring and building startups, and advising on a range of business subjects. He has advised government departments, political campaigns and senior leaders on communications, branding, partnerships and reputation strategies for over 16 years.