The Big Jobs
Prime Video Sports - Amazon
Head of Creative
Dec ’23 - Present
Amazon Freevee
Head of Creative
Jun ’21 - Nov ’23
What I was responsible for:
Led the development of all creative output of the Marketing organization. After completely reimagining the service from the ground up in 2022 (including new name, new identity and subsequent launch campaign) I was asked to expand my scope to include creative oversight of all Originals launch marketing efforts. I played a key role in reexamining how the team was structured and the processes and mechanisms we used to ensure we were always delivering best-in-class work.
What I learned:
How to navigate complexity and tremendous headwinds and still be successful. How to allocate extremely limited resources by leveraging individuals’ strengths and align them to a common cause. How to keep a team inspired and motivated in the face of great ambiguity.
Why I left:
I was invited to lead the creative team for Prime Video Sports. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I would be able to build a team from the ground up, and be a pioneer in shaping one of the most important growth areas of the business.
Prime Video Brand - Amazon
Group Creative Director, Global Brand
Oct ’17 - Jun ’21
What I was responsible for:
I was the Group Creative Director for the Global Brand Team at Prime Video. My team was responsible for all service-level initiatives and marketing campaigns. Additionally, I owned defining and giving order to the complex brand ecosystem and offerings. My team was focused on articulating a defendable brand value proposition that worked on a global level, and then brought it to life with dynamic creative and a robust expression system and identity.
What I learned:
While I continued to sharpen my skills developing multi-channel Brand marketing creative assets, what I’m most grateful for was what I learned regarding foundational brand building. I was a driving force in challenging many strategic assumptions that were holding our business back.
Why I left:
I was offered the opportunity to oversee a reimagining of Amazon’s lesser known ad-supported streaming service, IMDb TV. Total creative control over the articulation of what was essentially a new streaming service? Yes please!
What I am responsible for:
Currently leading the creative team for the Sports division of Prime Video. As Amazon invests deeply in sports streaming rights, I once again find myself with the amazing opportunity to be a key architect in building out a high-functioning marketing department. Current scope includes creative oversight of all brand building activities and marketing materials in support of Brand, Live Sports & Originals.
Most meaninful things I’m learning:
How to deliver under the spotlight. All eyes are on this critical piece of the business, which demands relentless and consistent high-judgment decision making. I’m also getting tested daily in how effectively I can deliver an incredible volume of day-to-day work while also thinking big picture, and inventing new ways to do our work faster and smarter. Finally, this high-stress environment provides me the opportunity to set an example for more junior staff by maintaining a positive attitude, and staying graceful under pressure. It can still be fun.
Why I’d consider other opportunities:
Let’s discuss in person?
Comedy Central
What I was responsible for:
Led the internal Brand Creative team in the creation of award-winning 360° launch campaigns for new and returning series. Oversaw all campaigns from concept to completion, including pitch development, photo shoot and execution of final creative. Additionally, my team was responsible for defining and maintaining core brand identity, as well as how it showed up across all customer touchpoints.
What I learned:
How to make killer marketing campaigns that break through and deliver the right message to the right audience in the most entertaining way possible. Also, how to have fun while doing the work, and the impact that has on the output.
Why I left:
While nervous I’d ever find another role where there was such a perfect mix of great brand and great (incredibly talented) people, things were getting repetitious, and I didn’t feel like I was learning new things at the rate I needed to be. That, and the clouds collecting over linear television were growing increasingly dark.
Creative Lead
Jan ’02 - Sept ’17
Other Previous Experience
Freelance
Creative Director / Designer
Jan ’98 - Jan ’01
Designed and art directed corporate identities, logos, websites, brochures, fonts and premiums for clients on a project-by-project basis. Also worked on several projects that redefined what a web “experience” could be, most notably a full-screen, choose-your-own-adventure-style web adventure that welcomed visitors to the site of supermodel, Eva Herzigova.
Various Design Studios
Art Director
Jan ’97 - Jan ’98
I enjoyed short stints with a number of small design studios, including Number 17, a reknowned creative studio founded by two former Tibor Kalman (M&Co.) protégés. I was given the opportunity to work on a number of projects for clients outside of entertainment, which provided new challenges and expanded my skills. One such project was designing all the printed collateral for the launch of The Mercer Hotel in NYC. Finding sophisticated ways to delight the guets with clever but understated design winks was pure joy.
MTV Networks
Designed promotional materials, video and multimedia presentations, & premiums. Directed photo shoots; oversaw projects from inception to completion; hired and worked with illustrators, photographers, and production staff.
Art Director
May ’93 - Dec ’96