Who is Johan Ronnestam?

Johan Ronnestam is a passionate surfer, global citizen, business developer, designer, future branding expert, creative director, TEDx speaker, innovator, and entrepreneur based in Stockholm, Sweden, who loves communication, ideas, and creativity.

Born in 1971 and raised in the stylish suburbs of Stockholm, creativity was always a part of his upbringing. With a background as a former professional snowboarder and one of the few individuals in the world to have landed a 1440° spin, he began his career in the purchasing sector.

While marketing high-end golf brands such as Mizuno, King Cobra, and Goldwin, he gained an understanding of the demands of both advertisers and consumers, as well as the complexities of getting products into stores.

Marketing golf brands

Driven by his passion for innovation, he transitioned to the creative side of business. The rise of the internet in Sweden drew him into the digital revolution in 1994. He left the sports industry and joined Delphi Economics, where he developed internet strategies and concepts for the financial sector. Some of his clients included Scandinavia Online, E-Trade, and Avanza.

Falling in love with the internet in 1994

In 1998, he joined Framfab, a rapidly growing company of the late '90s. As a concept developer and key account manager, he contributed to creating award-winning projects for clients like Vattenfall, Bredbandsbolaget, Nike Europe, and Volvo Cars. He also held a position within Framfab Innovation, the incubator for new ideas within Framfab.

In 2000, it was time to move on. He spent a year at Abel & Baker, the world's most awarded digital advertising company. During his time there, he played a role in winning the global account for adidas and worked with brands such as MTV, Nokia, Toyota, and the Red Cross.

Framtidsfabriken, moving on to Abel & Baker

He then founded his first company, Foreign, which rapidly grew to over 30 employees and received recognition in international advertising award shows such as Cannes Lions, D&AD, New York Festivals, London International Advertising Awards, Epica, Clio, Cresta, and others. They launched both digital and integrated global campaigns for BMW Motorrad, MTV, H&M, IKEA, Omega, Beckers, Com Hem, Intersport, Kosta Boda, adidas International, and many more.

Founding Foreign

With over 1,000 blog posts and over 150 speaking engagements per year, he established himself as one of Sweden's most sought-after speakers on trends, the future business landscape, and branding. He shared his expertise on creating effective communication for global brands while considering their future impact.In addition to speaking about communication, he continued to consult for leading brands globally.

Early influencer

His design expertise, creativity, and unique way of thinking made him highly sought after by brands across the world. Johan Ronnestam has consulted for brands such as Nike, adidas, BMW Motorrad, Omega, H&M, IKEA, Volvo Ocean Race, Kinnarps, Pfizer, Absolut Vodka, Suunto, Procter & Gamble, Nokia, and many others on a global scale. In Sweden, he has provided his services to Svenskt Tenn, Svedbergs, Fagerhult, ICA, Svenska Spel, Marginalen Bank, Fortum, Vattenfall, Stadium, Telia, and many others.

Leading brands into the future

Hire Johan as your Keynote Speaker

Inspire change, creativity and innovation.

Johan Ronnestam is a highly appreciated, and awarded keynote speaker on the future business landscape, branding, creativity, innovation and entreprenurship.

Learn more about keynotes

Brand I've worked with

Rene Bretschneider

Global Project Manager, Adidas International

"Johan always provided an excellent view on our business through the perspective of our key consumers. The creative solutions he developed for our brand campaigns were top of class, innovative, and truly out-of-the-box solutions."

Javier Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros Foundation

"Collaborating with Johan Ronnestam has been instrumental in capturing the essence of Seve's legacy. The new brand identity not only honors his memory but also positions the foundation to inspire future generations."

Caroline Karlström

Head of Marketing, Lundhags

"The 'Mad About Nature' platform authentically reflects Lundhags' dedication to the environment and craftsmanship. Ronnestam Creative Studio's holistic approach has revitalized our brand, making it resonate deeply with our community."

FAQ

What’s your process for developing a brand strategy?

We start with deep research—market, audience, competitors, and internal culture. From there, we define positioning, purpose, personality, and strategic narratives that guide everything from design to communication.

How do you balance creativity and business goals?

By aligning every idea with strategic intent. Great creativity doesn’t just look good—it performs. We ensure our creative work supports your business objectives and drives measurable outcomes.

Do you work with in-house teams or other agencies?

Yes. We often collaborate with internal teams, other agencies, or specialists. We can lead, co-create, or plug into existing setups—whatever fits best.

How do you structure a typical project?

Most projects follow a phased approach: discovery, strategy, concept, execution, and refinement. We collaborate closely at every stage, always adapting to your team’s way of working.

How do you approach sustainable branding and design?

We consider materials, digital carbon footprint, longevity of design, and inclusive storytelling. Our goal is to create work that’s both responsible and resonant.

Do you integrate AI or new tech in your process?

Yes. We actively explore and apply AI, automation, and emerging tools—always when it serves creativity, efficiency, or innovation.

Can we start small and scale later?

Absolutely. Some of our best relationships started with a single project. We're flexible in scope, while still thinking long-term.

Who is Johan Ronnestam

Senior Business Advisor, Creative Director and Awarded Designer.