Andrew Saunders is a creative marketing pioneer who helps the world’s most influential brands and artists thrive across the evolving media landscape.
Throughout his career, Saunders has launched new media practices, scaled marketing divisions globally and helped generate $1B+ revenue streams. He has engineered marketing and media solutions ranging from under $150K to over $150M for more than 250 global brands including AB InBev, Amazon, Amex, Apple, Capital One, Citi, Coca-Cola, Comcast, Diageo, Disney, Facebook, Ford, General Motors, Google, Heineken, Hulu, Hyundai, Marriott, Marvel, Microsoft, Netflix, Nike, PepsiCo, P&G, Red Bull, Samsung, Starbucks, Subway, Target, Toyota, Uber, Unilever, Walmart and WarnerMedia, as well as artists like Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher, One Direction and Ryan Seacrest. His work has been featured in Advertising Age, Adweek, Billboard, CNN, Creativity, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, People, Time, USA Today, Vice, The Wall Street Journal, Wired and in Fast Company's "50 Most Innovative Companies."
Saunders currently serves as Head of Entertainment and Culture for Amazon XCM, the company’s global cross-category and cross-channel marketing organization, which encompasses brand strategy, mass advertising, digital marketing, consumer research, and media planning and investment. There he leads the Entertainment Marketing practice, which includes creator relations and the development of strategic partnerships across all areas of entertainment and culture including television, streaming, film and digital for Amazon products and services including Echo and Alexa.
Saunders formerly served as Head of Global Brand Strategy and Marketing at Tastemade, where he led the Brand Strategy, Content Partnerships, Brand Design, Business Marketing and Ad Products teams across 6 markets globally in the US, Europe, LatAm and Asia. He oversaw the strategy, development and execution of all omnichannel marketing, media, experiential and commerce solutions for advertisers across all Tastemade channels globally including digital, mobile, OTT and linear television, as well as global communications strategy, design strategy, product development and brand-building initiatives. He and team launched over 175 custom marketing campaigns with brand partners globally, including 17 company firsts.
Prior to Tastemade, Saunders was Vice President of Content Innovation and Creative at NBCUniversal, where he oversaw the company’s largest omnichannel advertising partnerships across all networks and platforms. His team was responsible for the first “Saturday Night Live” digital series, produced by Broadway Video and sponsored by Honda and Target, the first multi-network philanthropic partnership leveraging the Emmy-winning “The More You Know” sponsored by Subaru, the first multi-network celebrity talent program featuring One Direction, and the first TODAY live plaza commercial.
Saunders joined NBCU from leading talent and sports agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA). As a founder of CAA's Brand Partnerships Division, he worked with brands and media companies to create custom entertainment marketing solutions. He also developed strategic partnerships for many of CAA’s top clients including Ashton Kutcher, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kings of Leon, Kurtzman/Orci (Transformers), Ryan Seacrest, Scooter Braun Projects (Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Martin Garrix) and Will Ferrell’s Funny or Die. Saunders and team were responsible for a number of noteworthy firsts in entertainment, including the first digital series to air on network television and the first digital series to star motion picture talent. He was also one of the first to integrate advertisers into Netflix original programming.
A passionate supporter of young talent and entrepreneurs, Saunders serves as a mentor for General Assembly, supports early-stage startups through StartEngine, and guest lectures for the mSchool: Institute of Marketing. He has been a featured speaker at Advertising Week New York and Europe, the Banff World Media Festival, multiple Digiday Summits, Digital Hollywood, the NY Media Festival, Sundance, WPP Stream and other global events.
Saunders also serves as a judge for the Digiday Video Awards, Haymarket's Brand Film Festival and the Streamy Awards. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University.
© 2015 Andrew Saunders