Montreal Marketeers Episode 17 – Johnny Russo on E-commerce, Digital Marketing, and Challenging the Status Quo

On Episode 17 of the Montreal Marketeers Podcast, we talk E-commerce and Digital Marketing with Johnny Russo, a self‑taught digital strategist and lifelong learner who leads the e-commerce and marketing efforts at Mark’s (L’Équipeur in Quebec).

Johnny graduated from Concordia University in 2003 with a degree in journalism, but it didn’t take long for him to realize his true calling was in marketing. Over the years, he built an impressive career working with leading Canadian retailers such as Mexx, Buffalo, and Bentley, before taking on his current leadership role at Mark’s.

What sets Johnny apart is his drive to continuously learn, improve, and innovate. Whether he’s studying consumer behavior, exploring new marketing strategies, or fine-tuning data‑driven campaigns, his approach is rooted in curiosity and a passion for understanding what makes people tick. His ability to blend analytical thinking with creativity has helped him shape Mark’s omni‑channel strategy and foster strong collaboration across teams.

In our conversation, Johnny shares valuable lessons on personal growth, leadership, and how embracing experimentation can lead to smarter, more effective marketing strategies.

Show Highlights and Topics

Duration: 1 hour and 25 minutes

• Transitioning from journalism to marketing

• Learning marketing through books and self‑studies

• Using data analytics to measure success

• Focusing on delivery rather than perfection

• Implementing scrum practices in retail

• Strengthening inter‑departmental communication

• Developing a true omni‑channel experience

• Outsourcing vs. insourcing

• Questioning the status quo

• Treating everyone as customers and partners

• Building teams with both specialists and generalists

Release date:

January 26th 2018