Group Strategy Director

Sean H. Eldred

**********@*****.*** • 203-***-****

Sean H. Eldred LinkedIn • Stamford, CT 06902

Group Strategy Director

Forward-focused and accomplished Marketing and Communications professional with 18 years of experience spearheading strategic planning and execution, account management, and client services functions to amplify business revenue and brand identity.

Proven success in steering media planning processes, developing innovative and data-driven campaigns, and meeting and exceeding client expectations. Collaborative, results-driven senior leader with strong history of augmenting client retention, continuous improvement, and revenue streams. Strong history of recruiting and coaching cross-functional teams to maximize professional and business development. Articulate communicator and trusted advisor, adept at forging relationships with senior executives and business clients, while ensuring compliance of project deliverables with stipulated timeframes, budgets, and quality standards.

Areas of Expertise

Strategic Planning, Development, & Execution

Client Service & Campaign Management

Process Improvement

Data Analytics & Solutions

Customer Service & Satisfaction

Digital & Offline Media Planning/Buying

Profit & Revenue Growth

Performance Analysis & Reporting

Team Building & Leadership

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Stakeholder Relations

Account Management

Career Experience

Media Director 2022 – Present

Cooper-Smith, Stamford, CT

Key Clients: Charter Communications, Spectrum, Spectrum Business, Spectrum Enterprise

Lead integrated paid media strategy and implementation for large telecommunications business. Own end-to-end implementation procedures, including research, development, and campaign execution and results, leveraging audience insights and performance data to refine media strategies and plans. Direct strategic ideation, planning, and enforcement of key processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. Serve as primary account lead, partnering with senior media strategists and planning/buying teams, and steering client-facing communications. Oversee multidisciplinary team operations for planning, buying, and analytics functions. Analyze market research and other data points to understand target audiences and formulate media strategies that address individual client goals and deliver results. Devise tactical recommendations on media marketplace nuances while leveraging knowledge of local broadcast, print, and paid digital and offline media channels.

Transformed media strategy using digital-first approach, replacing traditional media planning with new digital strategies aimed at revolutionizing consumer experience, catalyzing organizational performance and business goal achievement.

Collaborated with clients to redefine key performance indicators, emphasizing online engagement, conversions, and digital sales.

Identified and integrated new vendors, measurement partners, and planning tools while mentoring and educating teams on emerging growth opportunities.

Spearheaded planning and buying for all media, including Digital, Broadcast, Print, OOH, and non-traditional tactics across entire media landscape continually.

Group Strategy Director and VP, Client Services 2019 – 2022

USIM, New York, NY

Key Clients: Visit Philadelphia, O’Charley’s Restaurants, Southeastern Grocers, Aruba Tourism Authority, Center for Disease Control, Buffalo Wild Wings, Crunch Fitness

Oversaw and streamlined daily management of media planning processes and implementation of media plans, including strategic development, campaign management, and post-analysis and learnings. Translated client goals and business objectives into media solutions by utilizing data analytics to facilitate creation of media strategies across multiple disciplines while ensuring achievement of client-specific goals. Served as primary point-of-contact for clients with key emphasis on initiating and nurturing strong relationships and exceeding client expectations to solidify and grow business. Forged strong relationships with all levels of management, establishing trust and transparency for identification of business growth opportunities. Delivered data-driven solutions and produced in-depth client reports in adherence to campaign goals, while conducting customized evaluation studies as needed.

Headed implementation of media plans inclusive of digital, offline, and organic efforts, while overseeing all buying teams and providing any adjustments of strategy and optimization of campaigns to continually deliver on client business goals.

Ensured achievement of set objectives through collaboration with clients to define strategies, metrics, benchmarks, and goals for each client along with measuring ongoing performance and optimization.

Sourced new media solutions to deliver on clients’ goals and continually measure performance of campaigns to ensure delivery of business KPIs.

Developed and implemented internal and external processes to maintain team deliverables in timely and efficient manner.

Increased continuous client retention and revenue streams by managing business pitches.

Enhanced performance for clients, including measured return on ad spend of 25:1+ for Visit Philadelphia, along with facilitating O’Charley’s in successfully securing market share and out-pacing key competitors by +12% in 2020.

Ensured consistent increase in business growth by successfully surpassing client expectations.

Developed, trained, and mentored team members to enhance professional and business growth through ongoing performance reviews and feedback to team members, as well as enabling consistent development of skills required to advance career paths.

Director of Client Service 2015 – 2019

Key Clients: Aruba Tourism Authority, Center for Disease Control, O’Charley’s Restaurants, Buffalo Wild Wings, TreehouseEyes

Defined strategies, metrics, benchmarks, and objectives for each account, as well as measured performance to ensure attainment of specified requirements and objectives through collaboration with clients. Served as key point of contact for clients with focus on fostering strong relationships. Provided strategic recommendations and measurements/data solutions for clients on day-to-day basis. Administrated media plans, and formulated comprehensive reports for clients based on campaign goals. Led management and implementation of paid media creatives in collaboration with creative agencies.

Supervisor, Strategic Planning 2006 – 2015

Media Storm, Norwalk, CT

Key Clients: NFL Network, Fox Sports, NBA, MLB Network, UFC, Comedy Central, MTV, SPEED, CBS Sports, The Dr Oz Show, UFC, HDNet

Developed personalized solutions for marketing objectives and challenges, inclusive of digital and offline media, and directed media planning goals and strategies. Led integration of media team into business activities and strategized media plans by communicating with clients regularly. Supervised cross-functional departments, including broadcast, digital, paid social, paid search (SEM), partnership marketing, barter, TV traffic, and creative. Analyzed and presented campaign post-performance reports, including all data, analytics, and learnings, as well as local and national rating insights. Ensured compliance with budgets and all client deliverables.

Led strategic development of media plans including definition of audiences, establishment of media KPIs, and full execution of media planning process.

Served as primary Media Strategist, Media Planner, and Media Buyer across major sports and entertainment brands developing strategy, negotiating and purchasing print, OOH, experiential media, and digital media, as well as created market-level briefs and deep-dive POVs on market nuances to educate clients on emerging media, technology, trends, and competitive findings.

Created strategic campaigns to enhance viewership and captured audiences for various tune-in campaigns across multiple sports and entertainment clients.

Provided training to planners, assistants, and interns on daily processes and research tools.

Education & Credentials

B.A. Communications and Marketing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Technical Proficiencies

Software:

Microsoft Office Suite Tableau SQUAD Strata

Tools:

MRI-Simmons eTelmar Nielsen AdIntel Pathmatics Vivvix Media Monitors

Platform / Website:

Commspoint Influence Google Analytics

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