Managing Partner
Strategic Marketing Practice Leader
As founder of Ascension and leader of the firm’s strategic marketing and consultative sales practice Craig plays a hands-on role on many of Ascension’s major client engagements.
A three time Chief Marketing Officer Apatov possesses 20+ years of experience in strategic marketing, general management, and consultative business development for multiple Fortune 100 companies. In his role for the firm he is often charged with the development and implementation of game changing strategies for Ascension clients around the world.
Craig’s experience includes senior level roles with multi-national companies including Con Agra Foods, Citibank, GM, Mattel, Time Warner, and The Walt Disney Company where he helped develop and grow some of the world’s largest and most iconic brands.
His strategic brand building experience included growth strategies for Hunt’s Ketchup, Mattel Hot Wheels, Disney animated television programming, as well as entertainment and sports properties for Turner Broadcasting including CNN, The Atlanta Braves, and the Cartoon Network.
Apatov also led major digital initiatives for Citibank in the e-commerce area, the development of AutoTrader.com, and the creation/growth of one of the nation’s largest and most successful pure play online banks — The GMAC Bank (renamed the Ally Bank).
For Ascension Craig helps clients utilize strategic best practices, customer/marketplace insights, and best practices consultative selling to create measurable long term growth. He is the lead partner on all Ascension industrial client engagements and a lead trainer for Ascension’s Purposeful Selling program.
A recognized marketing and retail industry speaker and thought leader, he is a graduate of the University of Florida.
Craig has worked/lived in Los Angeles and New York and now resides in the Atlanta area.
