A superb story by the leaders who brought ING Direct to life. Highly recommended reading for every banker!

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Product Description

How championing consumers led to ING Direct's revolutionary rise in the banking industry

In an industry dominated by big banks with little patience for their customers, ING Direct has always strived to be different-a rebel with a cause, if you will-and in doing so, they've become the most successful online banking venture in history.

The Orange Code recounts ING Direct's intriguing story, explaining the philosophy of its founder Arkadi Kuhlmann-who believes in the power of individuals to control their financial destiny-and his long-running partnership with Bruce Philp, the branding consultant who helped him make ING Direct a cause to its own people and a household name across North America.

• Discusses the unconventional approach to business strategy, leadership, and management that built ING Direct
• Written by the company's CEO, Arkadi Kuhlmann, the driving force behind this unique company and its approach and Bruce Philp, the branding expert who has worked with some of the world's most well-known and valuable brands
• Reveals how the cause of personal financial empowerment has made everyone a winner in the ING Direct story

The level of success achieved by ING Direct holds some important lessons and offers some much-needed inspiration to a business world that could use a little of both right now.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #404820 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780470287231
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Inside Flap

"From the democratization of the automobile to the idea that computers should serve people rather than the other way around, the most successful businesses—not just the ones that made money, but the ones that made a difference—each built themselves around a higher sense of purpose, and then elevated their brand to sit at the right hand of leadership as its spiritual guide."
—From the Introduction

Since 1996, ING Direct has grown from a mere concept to a global enterprise, with over 20 million customers in nine countries. From the time this Internet-based direct bank first launched in Canada,it focused on serving ordinary people who felt abandoned by today's money-hungry financial institutions. In an industry dominated by big banks with little patience for their customers, ING Direct has always strived to be different—a rebel with a cause, if you will—and in doing so, they've become the most successful online banking venture in history.

The Orange Code recounts ING Direct's intriguing story, explaining the philosophy of its founder Arkadi Kuhlmann—who believes in the power of individuals to control their financial destiny—and his long-running partnership with Bruce Philp, the branding consultant who helped him make ING Direct a cause to its own people and a household name across North America.

In an entertaining and inspiring style, Kuhlmann and Philp discuss their unconventional approach to business strategy, leadership, and management that built ING Direct. From refusing to promote credit cards to college students to pointing out frivolous expenses, Kuhlmann and Philp not only address the practical principles that have propelled ING Direct to the top, but they also help you understand how the cause of personal financial empowerment has made everyone a winner in the ING Direct story.

While the idea of a business as a cause—with a brand as its constitution—might seem idealistic and even naïve in theory, it's not anymore. The level of success achieved by ING Direct holds some important lessons and offers some much-needed inspiration to a business world that could use a little of both right now.

From the Back Cover
Praise for The Orange Code

"Imagine a business model for a bank in the twenty first century founded on principles like paying customers high interest rates on savings while charging them low interest rates on loans. Imagine a bank that has harnessed the power of the Internet and gone on to confound the skeptics while earning the admiration and loyalty of customers and shareholders alike. Imagine no more, because ING Direct—led by founding CEO Arkadi Kuhlmann—is here to stay and has begun to change the color of money from green to orange for a lot of Americans."
—Tom Carper, U.S. Senator, former governor of Delaware

"Kuhlmann and Philp show how innovation linked to a lived set of values and an uncompromising focus on the customer can power an organization to extraordinary success in a short period of time. Their story of the Orange journey offers genuine insights every step along the way."
—Chad Holliday, Chairman and CEO, DuPont

"The Orange Code is a refreshing look at how the intangibles of leadership, corporate culture, brand, and customer experience can blend together to form a new class of assets that can become more important than the tangible assets in ensuring the success of an enterprise."
—Chris Matthews, CEO, The Hay Group

"You would have to be insane to try and build a new brand in the brutally competitive market of retail banking, but that is what they did. An incredible story of determination, focus, and maybe a little luck! A must-read for anyone with the goal of building a brand or business."
—Kevin O'Leary, Chairman, Gencap Funds Inc., and "investor at large" for BNN, CBC, and the Discovery Channel

About the Author
Arkadi Kuhlmann is the founding CEO of ING Direct USA, which has become the country's largest Internet-based bank. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of ING Direct Canada. Kuhlmann is active in a number of charitable organizations including the ING Direct Kids Foundation. Prior to starting ING Direct, he was president of North American Trust. Before that, he was president and CEO of Deak International in New York and professor of international finance and investment banking at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Arizona.

Bruce Philp is a writer and branding consultant with nearly thirty years' experience in the field, working with some of the world's most well-known, valuable, and loved consumer brands. Philp cofounded GWP Brand Engineering, ING Direct's agency of record since its beginning, where he is today Chairman and a working consultant. He also teaches and writes for a variety of publications as well as his branding blog, www.brandcowboy.com. For more information or to contact the authors, please visit www.theorangecodebook.com.

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Customer Reviews

The Orange Code - An insider's response
I first heard Arkadi speak a few weeks ago at the Bank Administration Institute's 'Retail Delivery Conference' in Novemver 2008 in Orlando. I am an insider - a former banker who spends most of his time these days teaching and consulting with bankers on pricing deposits.

I was intrigued by his message so I picked up the book to read on a long trip half way across the world. Of course I already knew about ING Direct and its success. I expected to be told most of what I already knew. Instead I found it full of insight on ING Direct's core principals, its branding strategy, its thought process behind its maverick behavior, management communication and a number of things I hadn't thought about. Those things are core to an outstanding success story.

If you intend to reinvent your business it is a 'must read'. I will be ordering a copy for each of our staff members to prepare those willing to make the committment for a planning retreat in which we intend to reinvent our business. I suggest you do the same.

Truly Compelling Leadership Book
This book got me thinking about why everyone mimics everyone else in business. Why do all banks act the same way (have branches, credit cards, ATMs, car loans, checking accounts, etc.)? For that matter, why do almost all car dealerships, or department stores, airlines, etc. act in the smae way?

Arkadi Kuhlmann has provided his own answer by trashing some of the sacred practices of established banks and creating a new company that is wildly successful by standing for something in the face of the customer. Every company should have the courage to step out of line, restrategize and reorganize to deliver something meaningful for customers. Harley-Davidson has done it. Southwest has done it. Apple has done it. And ING Direct has done it, even in the wreckage of numerous failed banks.

My opinion: Buy this book...it just might save your company.

Refreshing look at leadership
This book is an inspiring and refreshing look at leadership from the perspectives of two gurus from their respective industries. Funny, insightful, informative and timely, The Orange Code couldn't be released at a more appropriate time, as it reaffirms the notion that an organization can be successful, not in spite of, but because it consistently strives to do "the right thing."