Thomas D. “Tom” Hartje (IABE ’71), a global advertising and marketing executive who specialized in turning around underperforming businesses and whose recent ventures included forming his own consulting firm, entered the Chapter Eternal on November 25, 2013.  He passed away at the age of 64 in Novato, CA.

Hartje grew up on a farm in Iowa and attended the University of Iowa.  He pledged the Iowa Beta chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and was initiated into the fraternity on January 17, 1970.  He received SAE badge number 141758. Hartje was active in the fraternity and remained close friends with several fraternity brothers throughout his life.

When the aftermath of the Vietnam War wreaked havoc on the Iowa Beta chapter and set in motion the closing of Chapter House, Hartje rescued several historical SAE items for safekeeping.

After graduating Iowa in 1971, Hartje moved to Chicago and joined DDB Worldwide as its first ad agency supervisor for McDonald’s. Subsequently, he was promoted to Sr. VP Europe, where he opened DDB operations in London and Spain.  Hartje also led DDB’s development in Asia, based in Hong Kong, as the Managing Director, where he led their China entry. 

Recruited to turn around Leo Burnett’s flagship Hong Kong agency, Hartje restored it to the largest ad agency operation in Southeast Asia. As Executive VP / Managing Director for Greater China, he led Burnett’s entry into China and launched the Brand Identity, PR & Digital Media subsidiaries. 

Hartje left Burnett to form his own marketing consulting firm focused on helping Fortune 100 companies expand in Asia Pacific. He transitioned to Internet consulting, joining Scient in San Francisco as Managing Director. He subsequently founded the China Business Development Group, with offices in San Francisco and Shanghai, focused on helping companies establish & expand in Asia.

"Brother Tom Hartje was a highly influential international marketing guru but more importantly he was a great guy and the epitome of a True Gentleman," said Marc Rosenow (IABE '86), president of the Iowa Beta Alumni Association. "We had mutual friends in common and he was proud to join the Iowa Beta Alumni Association.  His fraternity brothers remember his great sense of humor and keen intellect.  On behalf of all Iowa Beta alumni, we send our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.” 

Hartje held a MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.  He and his family live near San Francisco in Marin County, California.