Cătălin Rusu

Cătălin Rusu is an entrepreneur and creative leader with over two decades of experience building brands, teams, and business concepts with measurable impact.

He began his career in advertising in 2001 and, by 2008, co-founded Rusu+Borțun, where he serves as CEO and Creative Director. Under his leadership, the agency has become one of Romania’s leading independent players, recognized for its strategic creativity and integrated approach to brand building.

Beyond the agency, his work extends into multiple ventures. He is co-founder of Apollo111, a multidisciplinary cultural hub in Bucharest, co-founder of Brand Growers, and partner in DBO, while also investing in tech and marketing startups.

Cătălin is actively involved in the international creative industry, serving as a juror for major competitions such as Effie, ADC Europe, and Golden Drum, and holding leadership roles within ADC Romania and ADC Europe. His career reflects a constant drive for reinvention, from building businesses to stepping into new challenges, including becoming a professional basketball player and the oldest rookie in Romania’s first league.