Chris Jansma

Award-winning Executive Creative Director with extensive experience leading teams and transforming brands such as Pampers, Dawn, Whirlpool, and Nerds Candy. Proven track record in reversing negative growth trends, launching Grand Prix-winning campaigns, and building content systems that drive customer acquisition and solidify category leadership.

Executive Creative Director / Marketing Consultant at Freelance (2026-07 – Present)

SVP / Executive Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi (2023-09 – 2026-07)

Worked on portfolio of brands: Pampers, Dawn, Cascade, Pepto-Bismol, Santander Bank, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, NyQuil+DayQuil, VapoRub, Prilosec, Metamucil, Align

• Served as senior creative partner to stakeholders across a portfolio of 10+ brands, ensuring alignment and driving consistent brand messaging.
• Directed and mentored a teams of creatives through regular 1:1 career development, improving performance and creative output.
• Reversed a negative growth trend for Pampers by leading an integrated, culturally-relevant brand relaunch spanning creative, content, and social channels.
• Launched Dawn Mallards; the highest-scoring and most talked-about campaign in brand history. And re-branded Pepto-Bismol to solidify category ownership.
• Built an always-on content model for Santander Bank, fueling customer acquisition through always-on, culturally relevant storytelling and engagement.

VP / Group Creative Director at Digitas (2014-04 – 2023-09)

Worked on portfolio of brands: Whirlpool, Maytag, Nerds Candy, Trolli Candy, Wonka Brands Candy, AAA Delta Dental, RX Bar, Save A Lot, New Business

• Led strategic brand development for Whirlpool and Maytag, defining and executing brand purpose, positioning, frameworks, and messaging.
• Took Nerds Candy from challenger to the #1 candy brand in America via its first fully integrated campaign, spanning brand, media, and retail activation, anchored by a Super Bowl launch.
• Led a multi-year partnership between Whirlpool and Disney, developing integrated platforms and work for several Pixar movies.
• Won and led new business across AAA, Delta Dental, RX Bar, and Save A Lot, building integrated go-to-market frameworks for each.
• Built the most effective franchise-backed campaign to date for Delta Dental, balancing national brand consistency with local franchisee execution.
• Relaunched Whirlpool to win a Grand Prix Lion. And Maytag to win a Gold Efe for effectiveness.

Creative Director / Writer at Freelance (2013-05 – 2014-04)

Worked on: Allstate at Leo Burnett, Kellogg's at Edelman, New Business at Digitas, Agency Marcom at Frequency 540

Creative Director at Trisect (2012-04 – 2013-05)

Worked on: Kawasaki, Mike's Hard Lemonade, New Business

• Led the Kawasaki business, including the brand's first entertainment partnership with Disney.
• Won and launched the Mike's Hard Lemonade business.
• Helped build an in-house production studio, JerryRig, an early content creation studio model.

Associate Creative Director at Young & Rubicam (2010-02 – 2012-04)

Worked on: Sears, Craftsman, Kenmore, Bonefish Grill, Hotels.com, Dave & Buster's, Giant Eagle, Chamberlain College of Nursing, New Business

• Built in-house digital studio that led to a more integrated agency approach, and grew digital revenue by over $3 million in a single year.
• Developed Hotels.com's first cohesive strategic digital framework to integrate their creative platform with hard-working social and digital content.
• Led brand architecture and rebranding work across the Sears portfolio, including Craftsman and Kenmore.
• Won Dave & Buster's, Giant Eagle, Einstein Bagels and Chamberlain business.

Senior Copywriter at Leo Burnett (2008-04 – 2010-02)

Worked on: McDonald's, Purina, Beneful, Pro Plan, Norton, Raytheon, New Business

Copywriter at Beam Interactive (2005-07 – 2008-04)

Worked on: Mini Cooper, Puma, Comcast, Iams, New Business

Master of Arts in Marketing & Advertising – Emerson College

Bachelor of Arts in Film – Denison University