Tori Katz
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Mastered the art of storytelling over the past 15 years, helping brands develop and execute campaigns that drive growth and advance their mission. Specialist in designing marketing strategies and building category leading, early-stage, and innovation brands aiming for acquisition. Leader with an established track record of client retention through trust and collaboration and an ability to work alongside business partners to solve problems. A creative thinker (overly ambitions in brainstorms) with a keen awareness of cultural, consumer and entertainment trends, which produces meaningful publicity and brand awareness across a diverse range of categories.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
MMGY Wagstaff / MMGY Global
01.2022 - Current
- Executive leadership of Wine & Spirits, representing 30+ consumer/lifestyle brands, inclusive of corporate communications
- Manage and mentor team of direct reports
- Execute strategic brand launch and event partnerships with luxury, hospitality, and sporting partners (golf, sailing, baseball, basketball, and more) that diversified revenue streams and consumer brand awareness
- Implement paid influencer marketing strategies, data-driven initiatives to secure measurable results for multiple brands and support affiliate marketing and text-to-shop programs
- Produced Oscars campaign for Domaine Clarence Dillon and Clarendelle Wines, the Official Wines of the Oscars and Academy of Motion Pictures
- Established Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits as category leader in the US and no 1 brand globally, securing 4.6+ billion earned media impressions for Dry January campaign
- Owned the Glenmorangie Single Malt Whisky (Moët Hennessy) account in the US, including the brands first-ever philanthropic partnership, which reached new audiences through events (including advising external creative and production partners), press trips, and media tactics
- Launched Goslings Rum International Dark ‘n Stormy Day campaign focused on trademark education, generating 800 million earned impressions ($7MM + ad value)
- Organize and host domestic and international press trips for client network, placing high level stories to meet client’s goals including: Glenmorangie Whisky (Scotland, London), Nikka Whisky (Japan), Kavalan Whisky (Taiwan), LUXARDO (Italy), Marques de Caceres (Spain), HINE Cognac (France), Ming River (China), The Fladgate Partnership (Portugal), and more
- Conceptualize and launch trade activation programs to improve brand visibility and support sales
- Maintain exceptional relationships with lifestyle, food, beverage, wine, spirits, travel, trade, and business/financial media, as well as key industry influencers, including analysis of competitor landscape (Adweek, CNBC, Esquire, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times); ongoing
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Secured key partnerships that contributed to the company''s overall growth strategy and market reach.
- Navigated company through periods of significant change, maintaining focus on long-term strategic goals.
Executive Director
Wagstaff Media + Marketing
01.2018 - 01.2020
Senior Account Executive
Wagstaff Worldwide
01.2016 - 01.2018
Account Supervisor
Wagstaff Worldwide
01.2014 - 01.2016
Public Relations & Marketing Consultant
Freelance
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Wagstaff: Media relations, event management, and contributed to development of new wine & spirits division
- Ogilvy: Media relations (consumer and thought leadership) for American Express account team
- The Watsons: Communications strategy consultant for creative agency/CPG brand launches and rebrands
- Break The Floor Productions: Defined and executed media campaign for company’s first-ever national touring live entertainment show (So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, Shaping Sound)
Account Manager
Maloney & Fox
01.2012 - 12.2012
- Company Overview: PR agency specializing in consumer brands, acquired by Waggener Edstrom
- Communications leader at PR agency specializing in consumer brands, acquired by Waggener Edstrom
- Executed national PR campaigns for William Grant & Sons scotch whiskies – Glenfiddich & Balvenie – securing earned media placements in national outlets (Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, Washington Post, GQ)
- Designed multi-city media tours and events in the US alongside commercial teams to garner media engagement
- Team conceptualized the Balvenie Rare Craft program driving traffic to owned platforms and widespread media coverage of celebrity partnership
- Supervise four external PR agencies, ensuring earned media coverage aligned with internally developed product & brand marketing strategies; reported to Brand Managers
- PR agency specializing in consumer brands, acquired by Waggener Edstrom
Senior Account Executive
Corbin-Hillman Communications
01.2010 - 12.2012
- Company Overview: PR agency of record for BACARDI, USA, focusing on media relations and consumer events
- Executed media campaigns to support experiential marquee press and consumer events for BACARDI’s rum portfolio, increasing brand awareness across multiple genres - sports, entertainment, and beverage
- Managed media relations to support trade programs, spirits competitions at key accounts nationwide, and partnership communications (NBA, UFC), ensuring brand alignment across platforms
- PR agency of record for BACARDI, USA, focusing on media relations and consumer events
Publicist, Hospitality & Entertainment
Berk Communications
01.2005 - 12.2010
Communications & Special Projects Manager
Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade
01.2005 - 12.2010
- Company Overview: Food Network talent
- Food Network talent
Marketing Associate
New York Stage & Film
01.2005 - 12.2005
Account Executive
Abel Communications
01.2005 - 12.2005
Education
BS - Communications, Theatre
Towson University
Bachelor of Arts - International Marketing & Communications
American University of Rome
Skills
- Media Relations
- Brand Strategy
- Client Service
- Strategic Partnerships
- Thought Leadership
- Team Leadership
- Influencer Marketing
- Project Management
- Wine & Spirits
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Non-Alcoholic
- Event Management
- Talent Management
- New Business Sales
- Coaching & Mentoring
- High Impact Presentations
- Entertainment & Sports Marketing
- Strategic Planning
- Corporate Communications
Timeline
Director
MMGY Wagstaff / MMGY Global
01.2022 - Current
Executive Director
Wagstaff Media + Marketing
01.2018 - 01.2020
Senior Account Executive
Wagstaff Worldwide
01.2016 - 01.2018
Account Supervisor
Wagstaff Worldwide
01.2014 - 01.2016
Public Relations & Marketing Consultant
Freelance
01.2013 - 01.2014
Account Manager
Maloney & Fox
01.2012 - 12.2012
Senior Account Executive
Corbin-Hillman Communications
01.2010 - 12.2012
Publicist, Hospitality & Entertainment
Berk Communications
01.2005 - 12.2010
Communications & Special Projects Manager
Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade
01.2005 - 12.2010
Marketing Associate
New York Stage & Film
01.2005 - 12.2005
Account Executive
Abel Communications
01.2005 - 12.2005
BS - Communications, Theatre
Towson University
Bachelor of Arts - International Marketing & Communications
American University of Rome
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