Don Watt is chairman and CEO of DW+Partners, a fund committed to acquire and manage specialist assets in the area of branding, product development and packaging, retail design, communications and technology in support of the consumer experience at retail.
He is the founder and former chairman of Watt International Inc, a multi-disciplined strategic planning design and implementation firm, known for integrating brand, product and space.
In 1965, prior to forming this firm, his design was chosen as the basis for the Canadian flag, following a national competition. As well, he contributed to the design of the Canadian Pavilion at Expo ’67.
Since then, he has focused on consumer product and retail innovation, including creation and management of retail brand programs. Past and present clients include Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Safeway, Loblaws, Ahold, Do-it-Best Corp, Nestle, Kraft and Cott Corporation.
In 1988, the Harvard Business School recognized Don for developing a firm that created unconventional solutions to classic profit-improvement problems, ranging from start-up, turnaround and growth, using strategic design to effect change in consumer response.
Today Don Watt enjoys the challenge of his new company and sits on the boards of many other interesting firms such as Aastra Telecom, Forzani Group, Menu Pet Foods and Cott Corporation, where his vast knowledge of the retail industry is welcomed. He may be found at his home in Arizona when he is not at his farm in King Township near Toronto.
