Peter Van Wijnaerde

Medieval strategies for modern brands

Summary

Take a 1000-year leap. Rulers like kings and queens relied on branding to keep their power, because it was cheaper, easier and often smarter than proving it on the battlefield. We will step back in time to uncover the timeless strategies that connect Godfrey of Bouillon with Patagonia, or Charlemagne with Louis Vuitton.

These stories reveal the roots of brand struggles and victories in their purest form. From holy seals of approval to bold myth-making, the echoes are everywhere. Branding is not a modern invention dreamed up by Mad Men. It is a survival skill that has shaped art & history itself. Peter offers a lens for every CMO showing that the challenges may change, but the solid strategies and the people they seek to reach remain strikingly familiar.

Biography

Peter Van Wijnaerde is a seasoned marketing executive and creative thinker who operates at the intersection of strategy and culture. He has built his career on translating complex ideas into simple, compelling narratives that connect brands with people.

As a writer and keynote speaker, Peter blends his love of history and art with the world of modern branding, showing how timeless stories and cultural references can shed light on today’s business challenges. His perspective is a product of passion and he is always pushing for brands to be more giving, meaningful, relevant, and alive.

He is currently Chief Marketing Officer at Springbok Group, where he helps shape the positioning and growth of the agency network. Beyond his executive role, Peter is also the spiritual father of Agency Life by Teamleader, a long-running initiative where he shares insights, interviews, and observations from the frontlines of agency life to Agencies in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany

Curious, bold, and unapologetically passionate about his craft, Peter continues to explore how creativity, culture, and commerce can come together to build brands that matter.