WASHINGTON, USA // Kim Wijkström, often referred to as Joakim “Kim” Wijkström, is a seasoned marketing executive currently serving as the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Vanda Pharmaceuticals, a global biopharmaceutical company based in Washington, DC. He joined Vanda in August 2019, where he leads the development and execution of the company’s marketing strategies, focusing on commercializing innovative therapies for unmet medical needs.

Before Vanda, Wijkström held high-profile CMO roles at OneMain Financial where he launched the company’s first-ever brand campaign, “Lending Done Human,” and at Perry Ellis International, where he revitalized the menswear brand with a modern take on its heritage. His career also spans significant stints in advertising working with agencies like TBWA Chiat Day, BBDO, and Crispin Porter + Bogusky. At TBWA he served in leadership roles on iconic campaigns like Apple’s “Think Different” and Absolut Vodka. As director of content management at Crispin helped lead the launch of Volkswagen “Das Auto” as well as Activision’s Guitar Hero franchise. His work has earned accolades for both creativity and effectiveness, including a Grand Effie and induction into the AMA’s Marketing Hall of Fame.

Wijkström’s background is diverse—he’s a Swede who grew up in West Africa, holds a BA in Art History from Georgetown University, and an MBA in Marketing and International Business from NYU’s Stern School of Business. He’s known for his storytelling approach to branding, emphasizing narrative over tactical tools, a philosophy shaped by his early exposure to Apple’s marketing ethos.