Chris O'Neill

Partner and Copy Director with 20+ years of experience in integrated marketing, brand strategy, and copywriting across higher education, healthcare, finance, nonprofit, and B2B sectors. Expertise in multi-channel campaign leadership, brand messaging systems, data-driven direct response, CRM marketing, and AI-enhanced content workflows. Full-spectrum creative capabilities from strategy through execution across digital, web, social, print, and broadcast channels.

Partner | Copy Director - Gas Powered Shark Creative - Media, PA

(2010-01)

Lead integrated marketing and communications campaigns from concept through execution across all channels; develop brand messaging systems and strategic content for clients across higher education, healthcare, finance, nonprofit, and B2B industries.

• Multi-Channel Campaign Leadership (Digital, CRM, Web, Social, Print, Broadcast): Lead integrated marketing and communications campaigns from concept through execution across all channels; develop brand messaging systems and strategic content for clients across higher education, healthcare, finance, nonprofit, and B2B industries
• Higher Education Enrollment Marketing (Fairleigh Dickinson University): Lead enrollment and lifecycle marketing initiatives supporting engagement, brand visibility, and enrollment growth; translate complex academic and institutional messaging into clear, prospect-focused communications
• Brand Strategy & Cross-Functional Partnership (Capital One, Discover, Novo Nordisk, Idorsia): Partner with leadership and marketing teams to align messaging with business and audience engagement goals; manage multiple concurrent projects, editorial workflows, and stakeholder communications in fast-paced environments
• AI-Enhanced Content & Workflow Optimization: Integrate AI tools into content development and editorial workflows to accelerate production, improve consistency, and support scalable content operations

Senior Copywriter - Merkle Inc. (now part of Dentsu) - King of Prussia, PA

(2005-01 - 2010-12)

Developed data-driven direct response and CRM campaigns for national clients focused on acquisition, retention, and customer engagement; wrote conversion-focused digital, email, direct mail, and lifecycle marketing communications.

• Data-Driven Direct Response & CRM (Capital One, Bank of America, and more): Developed data-driven direct response and CRM campaigns for national clients focused on acquisition, retention, and customer engagement; wrote conversion-focused digital, email, direct mail, and lifecycle marketing communications
• Cross-Functional Campaign Development: Collaborated with strategy, analytics, account, and creative teams to develop performance-focused integrated campaigns; managed multiple concurrent projects ensuring messaging consistency, quality, and deadline adherence

Copywriter - Cross Country Bank - Glen Mills, PA

(2004-01 - 2005-12)

Created acquisition-focused direct mail and customer communications within a regulated financial services environment; developed lifecycle messaging supporting engagement and retention; collaborated with marketing and compliance teams ensuring accuracy.

Senior Associate Marketing Writer - PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) - Philadelphia, PA

(1998-01 - 2004-12)

Developed marketing materials, proposals, executive communications, and event messaging for internal and external audiences; supported business development through strategic, brand-aligned communications; collaborated across departments under tight deadlines for high-visibility deliverables.

B.S. - Corporate Communications - Ithaca College (1995-12)