Shaped by global scale.
Trusted by Canada’s leaders.
20+ years turning marketing research into media and digital operations that grow the business.
- TELUS
- WestJet
- Sport Chek
- Deloitte
- bwin
- Universal McCann
- Athens 2004 Olympic Games
- TELUS
- WestJet
- Sport Chek
- Deloitte
- bwin
- Universal McCann
- Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Strategy built on evidence, not opinion.
Two continents, two decades, and a career built entirely on the operating side. Vassilis started in Europe, moving from the operational intensity of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games to global agency scale at Universal McCann, and early digital performance at bwin.
Bringing that foundation back to Canada, he led digital and media strategy across three highly competitive sectors: retail, aviation and telecommunications, working with Sport Chek, Sporting Life Group, WestJet and TELUS.
Over time, that front-line curiosity turned into a disciplined conviction: most organizations over-invest in what is easy to measure, and under-invest in what actually builds the business.
Off the clock, he co-hosts The Sleeping Barber, a candid podcast pulling apart marketing myths, leadership and the reality behind the work.
[ Recognition ]
Awarded for the work. Trusted to judge it.
Work recognized by Effie, Global Search, Infopresse and Marketing Magazine. Behind every award is a multidisciplinary team, some where Vassilis led the digital and media strategy, others where he supported cross-functional execution.
Gold Effie
TELUS High Stakes, 2025
A collaborative team campaign delivering the best Q2 ever on nearly half the prior media budget.
4× Gold
Global Search Awards, 2025 and 2026
Back-to-back global honours for Best In-House Team and Best Canadian PPC Campaign at TELUS.
Marketer of the Year
Sport Chek Team · Marketing Magazine, 2014
Awarded to the Sport Chek marketing team for building Canada's benchmark digital sports retail experience.
Grand Prix
Prix Média Infopresse, 2014
Digital category, for the Adidas Olympic High Performance campaign.
- 2× Awards judgeCanadian Marketing Association Awards
- 1× Jury memberStrategy Agency of the Year
TELUS
- 2026Gold, Best Global In-House TeamGlobal Search AwardsONEsearch
- 2026Gold, Best Canadian PPC CampaignGlobal Search AwardsSearch PPC
- 2025Gold EffieInstitute of Canadian AgenciesHigh Stakes
- 2025Gold, Best Global In-House TeamGlobal Search AwardsONEsearch
- 2025Gold, Best Canadian PPC CampaignGlobal Search AwardsHigh Stakes PureFibre SEM
Sport Chek
- 2016Silver, Best in Digital InnovationMedia Innovation AwardsChase the Gear
- 2015Gold, Best Digital CampaignInfopresseWhat It Takes
- 2014Gold, Best in Retail and E-commerceMarketing Magazine MIAsDigital Flyer
- 2014Grand Prix, Digital MediaPrix Média InfopresseAdidas Olympic High Performance
- 2014Marketer of the YearMarketing MagazineSport Chek
bwin.party
- 2010Global Best Practicebwin.party Operational BoardAC Milan activation
- 2009Global Best Practicebwin.party Operational BoardEurobasket activation
Universal McCann
- 2008Young Lions Winner, Marketing and Media PlanningYoung Lions HellasRepresented Greece at Cannes
[ Voice and perspectives ]
Testing ideas out loud. In the studio, with teams, and on industry stages.
Co-hosting The Sleeping Barber, speaking with marketing organizations and leadership teams, and joining industry panels on media strategy and commercial effectiveness.
The podcast
The Sleeping Barber
A candid show where researchers, economists and operators sit down to pull apart marketing myths. Co-hosted by Vassilis and Marc Binkley, it is where theory gets stress tested against what actually happens in market.
Listen to The Sleeping BarberKeynotes · Team sessions · Industry panels
Topics Vassilis brings to organizations
Escaping the short-term ad trap
Why brands chasing this quarter's clicks end up paying more for less growth, and how to rebalance brand and demand without losing the room.
Marketing through volatility
What holds when budgets get cut, priorities flip and the CEO wants an answer by Friday. A field view from the operator's chair.
Evidence-based growth
Making empirical research survive contact with boardroom reality, so the marketing plan is argued on evidence rather than opinion.
For organizers and hosts
Invited by marketing organizations, executive teams and industry events to speak on effectiveness and media strategy. If you’re hosting Vassilis, his short bio and portrait are below.
Vassilis Douros is a marketing effectiveness and media strategist with more than 20 years in the operator's chair, spanning the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Universal McCann, Deloitte, bwin, Sport Chek, Sporting Life Group, WestJet and TELUS. He is a two-time Canadian Marketing Association Awards judge, has served on the Strategy Agency of the Year jury, and co-hosts The Sleeping Barber podcast with Marc Binkley. He speaks on escaping the short-term ad trap, marketing through volatility and evidence-based growth.
Looking to deploy 20 years of digital and media strategy on your team or media budget?