WELLS DAVIS
Los Angeles, CA (Willing to work remotely, hybrid, or relocate) |-| [LinkedIn URL]
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Creative and performance-driven Chief Strategy Officer with over 20 years of experience leading global brand strategy, experiential marketing, and revenue-generating initiatives for B2B and B2C brands. Proven track record of delivering integrated brand campaigns that drive brand awareness, affinity, and revenue growth ($10M+ in sponsorships and new business). Skilled in C-suite collaboration, managing high-performing global teams, and crafting immersive storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences. Passionate about leveraging data-driven insights, emerging technologies, and out-of-the-box thinking to transform brands and create memorable experiences.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Davis Conspiracy
Chief Strategy Officer/CMO | Los Angeles, CA | September 2019 – Present
Developed global brand strategy for Woodlawn Central, the largest mixed-use development by an African American developer, enhancing brand awareness and stakeholder engagement.
Spearheaded brand storytelling and experiential activations, securing $6M+ in corporate sponsorships for NBA rookie RJ Barrett—highest ever for a Canadian rookie—outpacing his salary.
Led brand transformation for BET Canada, designing a launch strategy, redesigning visual identity, and driving revenue through ad sales and partnerships.
Revitalized Tyson Beckford’s digital brand strategy, landing a grooming product line and a movie role, leveraging immersive storytelling for Instagram/TikTok audiences.
Collaborated with C-suite executives and managed a team to deliver integrated campaigns for clients like Mazda, Papa John’s, and Pfizer, optimizing ROI and brand affinity.
David & Goliath Advertising
Partner & Chief Strategy Officer | Los Angeles, CA | November 2017 – July 2019
Drove $5M in new revenue through new business strategies, securing clients like HBO and PepsiCo’s Imagine Snacks.
Transformed Kia’s global brand positioning from a single-model focus to a master brand strategy, resulting in sales rebound post-launch.
Led and mentored a team of 9 strategists, providing strategic counsel to C-suite clients and overseeing integrated brand-to-demand campaigns.
SnackableTV.com (Side Venture)
Co-Founder | Los Angeles, CA | January 2015 – December 2016
Co-created North America’s first short-form mobile streaming app, sold to Bell Media (rebranded as Crave TV), pioneering experiential digital storytelling.
Closed revenue-generating content deals with Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud and SNKRInc, enhancing brand engagement among Millennials.
Leo Burnett Advertising
EVP, Head of Strategy | Chicago, IL | October 2011 – July 2016
Promoted to C-suite role within one year, managing one of the largest strategy departments in the U.S. and guiding global brand strategies for Coca-Cola, Samsung, and Sprint.
Co-developed Coca-Cola’s “Small World Machine” campaign, winning 9 Cannes Lions through innovative storytelling and experiential marketing.
Secured $10M+ in new business via 5 successful pitches (Sprite, Samsung, Nintendo), driving revenue growth and brand awareness.
Saatchi & Saatchi Canada
EVP, Director of Planning | Toronto, Canada | December 2007 – March 2011
Guided Toyota to three consecutive years of purchase funnel increases through brand strategy and crisis management during its worst year in history.
Wrote new business strategies that won clients like Wendy’s and P&G, enhancing revenue and brand affinity.
TBWA/Chiat/Day
Managing Partner, Head of Strategy | Toronto, Canada | November 1996 – April 2002
Led global brand strategies for Nissan, Apple, and Sony PlayStation, managing a team of 4 and delivering award-winning campaigns for Shoppers Drug Mart and Moosehead Beer.
Secured 7 new clients (e.g., Taco Bell, Sears), generating multi-million-dollar revenue streams through strategic planning and C-suite collaboration.
Additional experience available upon request (e.g., Taxi Advertising, Clarity Strategic Counsel, Maclaren: McCann).
EDUCATION
York University – Public Policy and Social Sciences
Additional Training: Canadian Securities Course, Synectics Consumer Research Moderation, CFA Level 1
KEY SKILLS
Global Brand Strategy | Brand Storytelling | Experiential Marketing | Revenue Generation
C-Suite Leadership | Team Management | Integrated Campaigns | Data-Driven Insights
Event Strategy | Stakeholder Engagement | Creative Direction | Emerging Technologies
INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
Influencer of the Year, Adcolor (2015)
Award-Winning Strategist: Contributed to dozens of campaigns recognized for creativity and sales effectiveness (e.g., Cannes Lions).
Guest Lecturer: Miami Ad School, Western University, University of Toronto.
Published: Marketing Magazine, Strategy Magazine.
INTERESTS
Music production, gourmet cooking, DJing, golf, coaching basketball (sent 400+ kids to scholarships).
References available upon request.
Key Alignment with VP Brand and Experiences Role
15+ years leading global brand marketing and large-scale events for brands like Coca-Cola, Kia, and BET.
Proven ability to scale brands in competitive markets, generating $10M+ in revenue through sponsorships and new business.
Expertise in C-suite collaboration, managing global teams, and delivering immersive experiences that drive brand awareness and ROI.
Passionate about cutting-edge storytelling and leveraging data analytics to enhance stakeholder engagement.
