Chris Watson Email & Phone Number

Barrington, Ri, Us

Middletown, Ri, Us

Providing strategic leadership for marketing and communications initiatives while managing an in-house agency for an international, multi-market technology and manufacturing company. Directing all go-to-market, messaging, and brand strategies for new products and services, prospect nurturing, launch campaigns, thought leadership initiatives, sales enablement, and support for military/government and commercial proposals. Additional responsibilities include:• Serving as senior adviser to the Chief Executive Officer• Guiding overall brand and messaging for parent company as well as acquired subsidiaries• Leading communications strategy for corporate turnaround, aiding return to first operating profit in six years • Creating communications and marketing programs that contributed to growth from $19M to a high of approximately $180M annually (pre-2022 inertial navigation division divesture)• Acting as senior writer and editor for all corporate, marketing, thought leadership, and sales communications• Rebuilding and managing marketing department with staff in U.S., U.K., and Singapore responsible for: – promoting hardware and service portfolios to B2B, B2C, and government markets– communicating strategic vision, growth prospects, and details of innovative technology portfolio to the media, prospects, investors, customers, and employees– planning and implementing exhibits at 40+ trade shows, boat shows, and events worldwide annually– developing and maintaining corporate web presence, investor resources, and other digital properties– carrying out digital marketing through email and leading social media platforms – managing print and digital advertising campaigns supporting multiple markets – creating and conducting new product and service training for internal stakeholders and channel partners

Middletown, Ri, Us

As Senior Director, Marketing, I led global initiatives and regional marketing plans for the company. Working with an outstanding team of creative professionals, I develop the go-to-market strategy, launch initiatives, thought leadership and content development, sales enablement, and proposals for KVH's marketing programs & campaigns to maximize the impact of our marketing investment.

Middletown, Ri, Us

In this position, I was responsible for content development and deployment and for managing content and other aspects of the marketing “mix” to fully leverage KVH’s competencies across media (e.g., print, digital, etc.) and audiences to maximize our marketing ROI. I actively collaborated with other marketing functions such as public relations, industry analyst relations, graphic design, digital marketing, sales and marketing automation, customer service, IT and human resources to help define both the brand story and the story as interpreted by the customer. Ultimately, my role was to think like a publisher/journalist, leading the development of content initiatives in all forms to drive new and current business.

Middletown, Ri, Us

Conceived, developed, and oversaw the implementation of high-impact, integrated, digitally delivered marketing and communications programs to support strategic objectives and initiatives for KVH Industries, a global leader in communication and sensor systems for a broad range of mobile applications in the leisure, commercial, and government/military markets.

Providing strategic communications, marketing, and social media consulting to businesses and non-profit organizations, including:• writing and editing• inbound marketing and outbound marketing• social media strategy and interactive marketing• website planning and content creation• media and public relations• proposal development and editing

Providence, Ri, Us

Led national marketing, media relations, external communications, social media and web, event and branding efforts for Gilbane, a $3 billion global construction and facilities services company. Key achievements include: • Rebuilt marketing team as a strategic corporate resource following a significant reduction during economic downturn• Created new regional marketing support strategy serving 60 offices and multiple subsidiaries worldwide• Launched communication, inbound marketing, and social media campaigns via corporate website and multiple channels that doubled number of opt-in subscribers for more than 10 markets and qualified leads for business development• Established new vision and concept for the company’s annual publication and served as lead editor and promoter for quarterly industry economic report, each with distribution to more than 20,000 recipients, including partners, media, clients, and employees• Oversaw media outreach campaigns to trade publications and local TV, print, and online media

Middletown, Ri, Us

Communicated strategic vision, growth prospects, and details of innovative technology portfolio to the media, investment community, customers, and employees on behalf of KVH, an international high-technology provider. Some key achievements include:• Created strategic communications, inbound marketing, outbound marketing, and social media marketing campaigns that helped raise product awareness and demand as well as cultivated new, qualified sales leads contributing to a more than 500% increase in revenue over 10 years• Established and led internal team along with outside resources responsible for communications and interactive marketing, including customer, media, employee, and investor relations efforts• Served as company’s primary spokesperson for proactive and reactive communications while building and maintaining constructive relationships with key members of the media• Acted as principal writer and editor for all corporate communications, website content and collateral materials, as well as investment prospectuses that raised $63 million in equity • Co-led and collaborated on government proposals, including successful bids for $42 million hardware and service contract with U.S. Coast Guard along with small business innovative research proposals worth more than $5 million• Implemented multi-faceted media outreach campaigns for multiple product lines to trade publications and national, regional, and local television, print, and online media

London, Gb

Leader for collaborative proposal efforts and targeted corporate communications for a global, government services technology company, resulting in new business acquisition and helping to drive annual revenue growth from $600 million (1994) to $990 million (1998).

Created communications programs for international non-profit organization specializing in micro-lending and community development programs, initially as a volunteer and later in a part-time capacity.

Ba, History, Biology

Maritime Studies, Oceanography, Navigation