QUEBEC, CANADA // The route that led Douglas Bensadoun to his position at ALDO was not exactly circuitous, but neither was it the usual trajectory. After completing his secondary education at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, he enrolled at the prestigious Tufts University. As part of the program at Tufts he went abroad to study at La Sorbonne in Paris before returning stateside to earn a degree in Political Science, graduating cum laude in 1996. With his degree behind him he set out for Los Angeles, with a view towards breaking into the film industry. Indeed he did: After three years in production, Douglas Bensadoun founded his own company, Darling Films, creating several award- winning works including At The Quinte Hotel, a short film featuring Tragically Hip front man Gordon Downie, which garnered critical acclaim after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival.

In 2003 he transitioned from filmmaker to creative consultant, taking on the role of Brand Manager at Bureaux, a UK-based agency specializing in fashion branding. In 2006, Bensadoun accepted a position at the ALDO Group as an Assistant Buyer, working his way up to Product Developer. In 2008 he was named Creative Director/Marketing Director of The ALDO Group. Bensadoun has been at the helm of every ALDO campaign since the fall of 2008, working with some of the world’s most talented photographers, stylists, artists and designers, accumulating awards and industry acclaim along the way. In May 2012, he was named Creative Director and VP of Marketing for The ALDO Group.

Under his leadership, Douglas Bensadoun has grown the company by leaps and bounds, shaping and re-inventing the ALDO Group identity. Overseeing ALDO’s strategy, concepts, and execution, Bensadoun strives to push creative boundaries while balancing commercial appeal.

Asked whether he sees any connections between filmmaking and his current role, Bensadoun draws a parallel right away. “It’s all about story telling,” he says. “If you create and infuse every touch point with integrity and a consistent vision, your audience/customer will recognize themselves in what you’ve created.” Over his six-year tenure at ALDO, there's been a striking shift toward a more elevated brand perception and increased media coverage. When asked about his philosophy, Bensadoun offers up a succinct big picture motto: Stay Gold. He goes on to elaborate with advice that’s as applicable to creative work as it is to business: “On the day to day, it lives somewhere between ‘make it perfect’ and ‘get it done.’”Like his father Douglas Bensadoun is a keen philanthropist, with a special place in his heart for Santropol Roulant, a Montreal-based community organization that feeds the hungry. He also supports a variety of cultural foundations in Montreal, including the Canadian Centre for Architecture. In his spare time, Bensadoun enjoys cycling and surfing and working on his home, an industrial loft in the Little Italy section of Montreal.