Vlad Sitnikov (Vladilen)

Vlad Sitnikov, founder of Startrocket.me, ex-partner Wunderman Thompson Russia.

Born in 1979 in Moscow. Graduated from MSU Philosophy Faculty in 2001 with a degree in religious studies.

The leading specialist in the communications market in Russia. He started working with GRAPE in 2002 while managing his design studio and became an agency partner in 2004. His responsibilities included good design thinking, shaping new company services, and promoting interactive mediasphere opportunities for communications between customers and brands. 

In 2012, Vlad founded the Hungry Boys creative agency (before May 2022, part of Possible, WPP). The agency specializes in developing and implementing modern communication strategies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era and introducing new international standards and processes to the Russian market. In 2018, Vlad founded a new era of the space entertainment industry with the orbital display project (startrocket.me ). 2021-2023 brand director at Skillbox, work result: #1 brand among online educational platforms in the Russian Federation.

Projects with Vlad as the creative director or idea creator have received hundreds of awards and have been acclaimed by global media. International awards include RedDot, Cannes Lions, Awwwards, The FWA, One Show, and Webby Awards.

He was a part of the jury at One Show, the New York Festivals, ADC Europe, Epica Awards, Webby Awards, and Kyiv International Advertising Festival. WINA, Red Apple, Effie Russia, AD STARS, White Square, Red Jolbors, and ADC Russia.

Vlad has an active viewpoint on the Russian advertising market and, as a speaker, participated at more than 100 conferences around the country. He set up the Digital Transformation in Russia Conference and the Disrupt Marketing Conference. Lecturer at High School of Economics National Research University, Skolkovo University, IKRA School of Creativity Thinking, British Higher School of Art and Design.

Joined the Skillbox team in 2020. During the work on the brand, he achieved Top of Mind #2 among all educational institutions in the country (second only to Moscow State University), #1 among all educational platforms.

In January 2018, Vlad was named an Academician of The Academia of Russian Advertising by the Russian Association of Communication Agencies.

After March 2022, Vlad is working from Tel Aviv.