Rich Berens

For more than 10 years, Rich Berens had the opportunity to lead Root and its artists, designers, researchers, programmers, and MBAs in creating breakthrough approaches to change that have reached millions of people around the world. Berens has personally worked with dozens of Global 2000 organizations, including Hilton, Verizon, Masco, Petco, Procter & Gamble, Daimler, and many others to help align leaders and drive strategic and cultural change at scale. 

Berens is a frequent author, thought leader, and speaker on the subject of leadership, transformation, and how to create lasting change. His latest project is a new book called What Are Your Blind Spots? which he is co-authoring with Root’s founder, Jim Haudan. The book focuses on five key blind spots they have seen many leaders fall victim to that prevent them from leading their organizations and engaging their people effectively. 

Under Berens’ leadership as president and chief client fanatic, Root has been listed among the top 25 greatest places to work, has been named on the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list, and has experienced 10 years of consecutive growth. 

Berens joined Root in 1997 after completing his MBA at Michigan Ross. He worked for Commerzbank in Germany and has lived in both Germany and Nigeria. He holds a BSBA degree from the University of Washington in St. Louis, where he was a three-time All-American tennis player. 

Berens lives in Ann Arbor with his family and treasures time with his wife, Anne, and daughters, Katarina and Mia. In his spare time, he attends as many Michigan Wolverine sporting events as possible and is hopeful that his football team will find its way back to past glory. He is also an avid reader and likes to play golf and tennis.