Eric Jennings
I’m an executive brand, marketing, and creative leader guiding fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and hospitality brands through transformation and growth. I work with brands ready to evolve—bridging digital strategy, physical experience, and creative execution to shape their next chapter. My sweet spot is where storytelling meets the sales floor—connecting what customers see online with how a product feels in their hands. From Saks Fifth Avenue to Peerless Clothing (licensee for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and 25+ global brands), I’ve led omnichannel campaigns, rebrands, and content strategies that blend commerce with culture. As a Fractional CMO, Brand Strategy and Creative Lead, I partner with leadership teams to shape and execute full-scale brand strategies—from creative platform development to omnichannel campaign execution and AI-enhanced marketing. Whether guiding a retail rebrand or building an in-house creative department, I operate at the intersection of strategy, design, and execution. Over the past several years, I’ve integrated generative AI into brand strategy, creative direction, and customer experience—not as a replacement for human judgment, but as a lens that sharpens it. AI has clarified where leadership truly matters: setting direction, exercising taste, reading nuance, and making decisions when the answer isn’t obvious. As routine execution becomes automated, the real work of leaders is cultural, interpretive, and human—aligning teams around purpose and guiding brands through ambiguity with clarity and intent. Recent work includes the rebranding of Century 21, a 300% increase in social engagement for a luxury hospitality group, and editorial contributions to MR Magazine. I also hold executive-level certifications in generative AI and leadership from institutions including Vanderbilt University and UVA Darden, supporting a strategic, grounded approach to AI-enabled brand building. ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ See my portfolio at www.mrericjennings.com Password available upon request.
As the founder of Eric Jennings Creative, I serve as Chief Brand Officer to clients across fashion, lifestyle, and hospitality—providing strategic leadership typically associated with in-house executive roles. I lead cross-functional brand development projects that blend strategy, creative direction, CX design, and AI-enhanced storytelling to drive measurable results across customer-facing and corporate platforms. Selected engagements: - Century 21 (Rebrand): Directed company-wide rebranding initiative in collaboration with executive ownership; authored a 43-page brand guideline covering tone, logo, values, and employee experience. - Digital Magazine Launch: Selected by a former Saks C-suite leader to serve as Editor in Chief for a digital lifestyle magazine and e-commerce platform, overseeing editorial direction and content across fashion, food, travel, and culture. - City Night Hospitality: Grew total social reach by over 300% in three months through a targeted content strategy for three luxury venues in New York City. - Luxury Resort in Tuscany: Developed retail and private label strategies for a high-end hotel and golf destination, curating apparel, home, and gifting collections that increased transaction value and brand appeal. - MR Magazine: Contributed editorial features on menswear trends and brand innovation, positioning the publication as a leading voice in retail strategy and product storytelling.
Reported to the President and led a creative team of eight across design, photography, PR, and digital. Oversaw marketing strategy, visual identity, and packaging innovation for North America’s largest tailored clothing and outerwear manufacturer, managing 25 licensed brands including Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger. Key accomplishments: - Times Square Campaigns: Produced trail-blazing campaigns for Macy’s flagship store, with assets featured in Times Square, GQ, WSJ Magazine, and The New York Times. - Photo Direction: Art-directed national photo shoots featured on video billboards with a daily effective circulation of 1.5 million people. - COVID Response: Maintained business continuity during the pandemic through AI-generated visuals, remote photoshoots, and strategic B2B campaigns. - Brand Identity: Authored the company’s first brand book, codifying voice, visual standards, and positioning for internal and external stakeholders. - Packaging Innovation: Led data-informed redesigns for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren packaging, increasing perceived value and alignment with customer insights.
Led the fashion direction of $685M business unit (menswear, home, and beauty) with a focus on trend curation, experiential retail, and customer experience innovation. Partnered with senior leadership to create brand-defining campaigns, private label collections, and cultural partnerships that resonated across channels and generations. Key accomplishments: - Private Label Leadership: Launched Saks' first comprehensive private label menswear brand, scaling it to $35M in revenue within three years. - Omni-channel Innovation: Directed cross-channel campaigns including Empire TV partnership, NBA All-Star collaboration, and the launch of a 16,000 sq. ft. wellness floor in NYC. - Creative Vision: Shaped seasonal messaging and visual storytelling across digital, in-store, and print channels in partnership with internal creative and merchant teams. - Partnership Expansion: Forged a multimillion-dollar alliance with the Italian Trade Agency, amplifying global brand reach through influencer, artist, and trade event activations. - Trend Leadership: Discovered emerging designers globally and collaborated with buyers to bring curated collections to Saks stores nationwide.
Reporting to the president, I led the launch of a new contemporary sub-brand for this historic menswear label. Oversaw all aspects of brand development including retail, wholesale, e-commerce, and marketing, while managing a $10M business unit and cross-functional team of 6. Key accomplishments: - Opened and managed the brand’s first-ever flagship store in SoHo; drove $4M in first-year sales. - Expanded wholesale distribution to Europe and Japan while revamping digital presence and visual merchandising. - Directed product development, brand voice, and creative direction to differentiate the sub-brand in a crowded premium market.
Promoted into national sales leadership after advancing through merchandise and account roles. Led wholesale business development and merchandising strategy for department and specialty stores across North America. Key accomplishments: - Doubled U.S. sales of the HUGO line through exclusive product development with headquarters in Germany. - Directed sell-in and sell-thru strategies, retail presentations, and client education to improve market penetration. - Built key relationships with top retailers and collaborated closely with merchandising and marketing teams on product assortments.
Managed key accounts and regional partnerships across luxury retailers, advancing from customer service to account leadership. Drove sell-thru performance, product training, and in-store presentation standards. Key accomplishments: - Led store strategy and training to improve full-price sell-through at high-volume locations. - Worked cross-functionally with finance, customer service, and logistics to ensure timely deliveries and smooth account performance.
Promoted from sales to management within Nordstrom’s Façonnable boutique in NYC. Recognized nationally for outstanding sales and client service. Key accomplishments: - Earned Nordstrom’s Corporate Pacesetter award for top national sales performance. - Delivered consistently high client satisfaction in a luxury, commission-based environment.
I loved working with Eric. He is super creative and understands the practical side of doing business. Eric's taste level is unmatched and his industry connections are a huge advantage for marketing and PR.