Who is KN3W IDEAS?

KN3W IDEAS is a front-end of innovation training and consulting practice based in Sydney Australia, operating globally through a network of partners and practitioners. John Gerrie , ex-global innovation process guru for major consumer goods company, Reckitt Benckiser, is the founder, inventor and patent-holder of the KN3W IDEAS process and tools.

John Gerrie - Creator of KN3W IDEAS

John Gerrie spent 27 years in senior management roles in Africa, USA, Asia Pacific and Europe at the global consumer goods giant Reckitt & Colman / Reckitt Benckiser, with Board or Management Committee responsibilities in South Africa, Australia and the UK Global HQ.

Most recently he headed a global innovation and corporate venturing unit at the Reckitt Benckiser GHQ in London, reporting to the executive management committee, responsible for qualifying a £750M new product ideas pipeline, annually. He also developed and introduced a new front-end of innovation methodology to the corporation and led the global training program.  

John left his global innovation role at Reckitt Benckiser to research and develop a new approach to ideation, or the front-end of innovation. John was motivated to finding a better way, through his frustration with traditional brainstorm-based techniques. “Watching teams literally chuck 100’s of ideas into the air, or at least onto the wall, with no real thought, while often the most knowledgeable people were not participating,  made me think – there must a better way”

John has studied virtually every innovation approach around, and has worked with most of the top innovation companies. But it was his exposure to TRIZ in early 2005, that began the exhaustive development and testing process that has led to KN3W IDEAS.

John lodged patents covering the unique folding template in 2006, and has applied his problem-led ideation technique extensively across a wide range of industries .

John brings a unique combination of experience, having run  major  businesses and brands across multiple countries, managed sales, marketing and R&D teams, and headed up a global innovation team.

“KN3W IDEAS is a totally unique approach to innovation, I know people are comfortable with brainstorming, and that is the problem. Brainstorming is just not a very effective tool, it is  too often a quick fix, or shortcut to really thinking through a problem. I know once people try KN3W IDEAS they will immediately see the benefit, better problem identification, better ideas, and, most importantly.. people working together better”

Now resident in Sydney Australia, and an Australian citizen, John was born and educated in Cape Town, South Africa, and is an Alumnus of the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business, and a Founder Member of the Graduate School of Business Breakwater Campus.

John also founded the Thumbprint marketing internship program in South Africa aimed at developing young marketing talent from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

KN3W IDEAS Partner and Practitioner Network