CHRIS SILVA
Strategic leader in brand, marketing and communications initiatives, driving growth and aligning business
objectives in global markets
E WhatsApp: -
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q Portfolio: https://chrissilva.pressfolios.com/
q https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissilva81/
London
EXPERIENCE
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
SVP of EMEA Marketing
Blackstone
06/2020 - 12/2023
London
Pioneered an audience-focused, businessdriven plan with white space analysis across
sports and entertainment, establishing
groundwork for sponsorships aimed at highnet-worth clients.
Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager with $1 trillion in
AUM. We serve institutional and individual investors by building strong
businesses.
• Promoted twice in two years, from VP of Marketing to SVP of Marketing,
before relocating from New York to London in 2022
• Partnered with a small team of senior leaders to elevate brand visibility and
audience engagement in the alternatives market, setting new standards
through performance-driven metrics, trust-focused messaging, and digital
innovation
• In London, developed marketing strategy across EMEA, with a focus on digital
and events activations in local markets and languages
• Key leader in launching the firm's new brand positioning, strategy and tagline;
developed brand activation guidelines and led implementation across EMEA
• In New York, co-led the development of Blackstone's industry-leading content
platform, elevating the firm’s thought leadership through innovative, engaging
content strategies that positioned the firm as the partner of choice and
enhanced its reputation across key sectors
• Advised on and drove marketing initiatives for Real Estate, Infrastructure,
Tactical Opportunities and Private Wealth Solutions
06/2017 - 06/2020
B
AKQA
Y
05/2016 - 06/2017
STRENGTHS
• Led content strategy and copywriting for the client Activision's Call of Duty
CRM business
• Developed and tested a new audience segmentation and messaging strategy
for a database of 43 million gamers
10/2014 - 04/2016
Chicago
Cross-Functional Leadership &
Stakeholder Management
Track record in leading cross-functional
initiatives with C-suite executives and key
stakeholders — including investor,
shareholder and government relations, as
well as business heads, deal teams and
wealth managers — at Goldman Sachs and
Blackstone.
AKQA is a digital design and communications agency owned by WPP.
LEO BURNETT
Crafted the voice for an NBA franchise
in a new market
Established the editorial voice, across
channels, for the Oklahoma City Thunder
upon relocation from Seattle.
San Francisco
Senior Content Strategist
Revamped the CRM business for
Activision's Call of Duty franchise
Devised a new audience and content
strategy that increased CRM revenue to
$9.2M (+48.2% YoY).
Senior Content Strategist
Launched Marcus by Goldman Sachs'
content marketing platform
Built an SEO-optimized financial content hub
with an acquisition and engagement
strategy, driving ~40% YoY revenue growth
in Lending and ~50% in Deposits.
New York
Marcus by Goldman Sachs is committed to helping customers reach their
financial goals through online savings, investing and lending products
• Under an OKR framework, built and launched a content marketing discipline to
include: SEO, product management, data analytics, editorial + video content
creation
• Launched a new content platform and product-specific newsletters
• Integrated Clarity Money, United Capital and GE Capital Bank acquisitions to
reach a wider client base across the wealth management space
• Collaborated with product strategy on GTM strategy for Marcus mobile app
• Partnered with PR teams on proactive/reactive integrated marketing
communications for product launches, brand campaigns, executive and crisis
comms (i.e. Apple Card, interest rate decreases, disaster relief program)
• Guided the creation of an analytics foundation to monitor traffic, engagement
and percentage of mass affluent prospects and customers
• Established an operating model that gave Content team autonomy to publish
content, which improved time-to-market for editorial and video
• Led content partnerships with Global Investment Research, Investment
Banking, Executive Office divisions
Positioned Blackstone to own its
housing narrative
Launched a 'proactive defense' microsite
with an SEO strategy that secured top
Google rankings for key residential housing
terms. This ensured the firm controlled
digital messaging, safeguarded its brand
reputation, and fostered YoY shifts in
stakeholder sentiment.
VP of Content Strategy
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Developed Blackstone's first corporate
sponsorship strategy
Leo Burnett Worldwide is a global advertising agency based in Chicago.
• Responsible for front-end and back-end content strategies for the client Altria
(Philip Morris USA) embarking on a digital transformation, via the web and
mobile app
• Worked closely with UX and Brand Strategy on qualitative and quantitative
research that informed new customer journeys and experiences
7
New Product & Platform Development
Skilled in collaborating with engineering and
product strategy teams on horizontal
integrations, conducting product R&D and
creating content platforms, reflecting
experience with innovation cycles and laying
a foundation for business development.
Audience & Market Expansion
Experienced in driving audience
development initiatives, including new
segmentations and local market activation
strategies, to foster business growth across
diverse regional markets.
EXPERIENCE
SKILLS
Director of Communications and Brand Strategy
PRIORITY SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Strategic Planning
09/2013 - 10/2014
Chicago
Marketing & Communications Strategy
Priority Sports & Entertainment is a full-service sports management firm,
representing NBA and NFL athletes and coaches.
• Developed and executed integrated communications and content strategies
to elevate the personal brands of CEO/agent Mark Bartelstein’s NBA and NFL
clients
• Enahnced clients' visibility, evolving their personal narratives, and diversifying
revenue streams through strategic partnerships
• Led crisis communications strategy with the United Steelworkers for
Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter’s college football unionization efforts
• Managed the retirement and post-retirement communications strategy and
business plan for NFL player Rashard Mendenhall
• Devised a communications plan for soon-to-be NFL head coach Dan Quinn to
minimize speculation during the week of Super Bowl XLVIII
• Established a media training program for NFL and NBA rookie clients,
including performance feedback, talk tracks and media market reports
Brand Management
Market Research
Budget Management
Writing/Ghostwriting
Content Strategy
Agile Content Development
Partnership Strategy
Event Activations
CRM
SEO
Team Leadership
Senior Writer
VSA PARTNERS
01/2013 - 09/2013
Chicago
VSA Partners is a global strategy and creative agency.
• Lead writer for the rebrand of Mack Trucks, including brand identity, print
advertising, sales collateral, trade show experience, product and brand videos
• Other clients included Cargill and First Data
02/2011 - 02/2012
Chicago
Playboy is an American media and lifestyle company.
• During Playboy's final year in Chicago, executed a content audit and strategy
for a Playboy.com site relaunch, with a focus on developing new content
franchises and governance of legacy content
Web Content Manager + Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
English
Native
Spanish
Entertainment Editor + Web Producer
PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES INC
LANGUAGES
10/2008 - 02/2011
Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Thunder is a professional basketball team in the NBA.
• Established the team's editorial voice in a new market and activated it via
content across all online/offline channels
• Collaborated with Basketball Operations and Business Operations executive
teams to execute integrated marketing communications strategies
• Won first place in the Magazine Feature Writing category of the Society of
Professional Journalists' Oklahoma chapter awards for a story about the city's
transformation since the Thunder's arrival
Italian
Conversational
Beginner
PUBLISHED WORK
My writing has appeared in: The New York Times,
Playboy magazine, Chicago magazine, GQ.com,
TheAtlantic.com, MEL Magazine, ESPN.com,
ESPNChicago.com, Crain's Chicago Business, Time
Out Chicago, Chicago Tribune, Yahoo! Sports
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Temple University
2001 - 2005
Sports Reporter
DETROIT FREE PRESS
05/2005 - 06/2008
Detroit
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan.
• Reported and wrote enterprise, feature and news stories about local high
school, college and pro sports scenes, including two 1A centerpieces,
numerous Sports front centerpieces and special sections
CITIZENSHIP
As an American citizen married to an
Italian, I have the legal right to live and
work in Europe.
