David Sudjian Joins Derse Leadership, Marking New Possibilities for Brand Experiences and Growing Operations
David Sudjian, Chief Strategic Advisor, Experiential Events, brings his perspective and energy to Derse, where he will strengthen operations, advance brand experience capabilities, and help shape Derse’s next phase of business expansion.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA – September 30, 2026 – Derse announces that industry veteran David Sudjian has joined its leadership team, bringing extensive experience in experiential marketing to help shape the company’s next chapter of growth and fuel its expansion.
Sudjian joins Derse as Chief Strategic Advisor, Experiential Events, marking a new chapter in his accomplished career, which encompasses more than 35 years of leadership, growth, and innovation.
As Chief Strategic Advisor, Sudjian will provide internal guidance to Derse’s executive leadership, initially focusing on events, enterprise planning, organizational priorities, and long-term experiential and event marketing strategy.
“I’m returning to what has always mattered most to me: leading with purpose, mentoring the next generation, and helping build world-class teams with cultures that become the envy of the industry,” said Sudjian. “I’m excited by the opportunity to join Derse and build on its culture of putting ‘we’ before ‘me,’ and to work alongside exceptional teams to create lasting value and phenomenal results for our clients.”
Building on Our Strengths, Investing in Our People
At a time when greater complexity across the experiential marketing industry calls for deeper expertise, Derse is building its teams and advancing its capabilities to help clients move forward with confidence, bringing together the people, perspectives, and support that make every experience valuable across exhibits, events, and environments.
“I’m energized to return to an industry that has defined so much of my career—and to do so with Derse at such an important moment for experiential marketing,” said Sudjian. “The industry is in the middle of a dynamic transformation, and this role allows me to bring more than 35 years of strategic leadership to an organization focused on thoughtful growth and outstanding client outcomes.”
Sudjian brings his vast perspective and energy to Derse. Known for helping organizations evolve, strengthen operations, and advance brand experience capabilities, he will help shape the company’s next phase of business expansion and elevate its impact across the experiential events landscape.
“Throughout my career, culture has been a hallmark of my leadership,” he said. “I believe exceptional work begins with valuing every individual, listening to every perspective, and remaining accessible at every level of an organization. I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter.”
Deep Industry Expertise and a Natural Fit for Derse
For Derse, the appointment is as much about shared values as it is about industry experience.
“Being privately held gives us the freedom to think long-term, invest in our people, and build lasting client relationships,” said Brett Haney, Derse CEO. “David understands the value of that approach. His experience and leadership style make him a natural fit for Derse’s culture and for the direction we’re headed. He’s built a reputation for strong leadership and deep industry knowledge, and we’re excited for the impact he’ll make at Derse.”
About Derse
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Derse is a family-owned experiential marketing agency and exhibit builder with more than 650 employees across seven full-service divisions in the U.S. and Europe. For over 75 years, Derse has created award-winning exhibits, events, and environments in more than 50 countries, earning recognition as one of the most respected companies in the industry. Experiences Matter at Derse. Learn more at www.derse.com.
Media Contact
Stacey Nelson, VP of Marketing
Derse
414-290-3073
snelson@derse.com
www.derse.com
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