Experience

Hirsch Leatherwood

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Public Relations Consultant

  • Aug 2023 - Present



Atmosphere

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Director Of Communications

  • Mar 2022 - Aug 2023

  Served as head of communications and led marketing initiatives for Atmosphere, a B2B SaaS/digital out-of-home AVOD/FAST streaming service built for businesses. - Developed and executed annual corporate communications strategy, company narrative and messaging, working with both our PR agency, direct reports and department heads to promote company initiatives, achievements and product launches- Media relations and networking: Built partnerships with both mainstream media outlets, business partners and internal departments (human resources, marketing, finance, product, sales, talent acquisition), nurturing relationships and working in sync on announcements, events, and future planning- Executive leadership: Provided direction for C-suite public speaking engagements and thought leadership: prep calls, media training, and developing speaker strategy- Reputation management: Developed response strategies around a variety of potential issues around corporate topics, monitoring the media landscape and collaborating with internal departments on both company risk profile and method of response- Digital communications: Built business process and led the overall messaging of both the Atmosphere website and across social media marketing- Supervised awards submissions on both the local and national level- Copywriting, proofreading and editing of press releases, website and blog copy, thought leadership pieces, social media channels, etc.- Internal communications: developed and implemented an employee communications workflow, overhauling company email newsletters, executive emails, all hands meetings, and more Show less

• Manager, PR & Brand Marketing

  • Apr 2021 - Mar 2022



Gunpowder & Sky / WarnerMedia

• Greater New York City Area

• Director, Public Relations & Platform Marketing

  • Dec 2018 - Jan 2020

  Served as the strategic marketing & communications lead within the film division of Warnermedia’s independent studio Gunpowder & Sky, named one of Fast Company’s 10 most innovative video companies of 2020. Achievements in 2019: - Earned Gunpowder & Sky's first awards nominations, both for Elisabeth Moss in Her Smell: Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards, and Best Actress at the Gotham Awards - HER SMELL was listed as one of the best films of the year at 20+ publications, including Vanity Fair, GQ, NPR, The Boston Globe, Vox & Indiewire - Launched Lil Peep documentary EVERYBODY'S EVERYTHING in a simultaneous worldwide release, where it charted as the number one documentary globally on iTunes over Thanksgiving weekend - Increased TVOD revenue by 27% in 2019 vs. 2018 - More than doubled home video units shipped in 2019 vs. 2018 Responsibilities: - Managed the duties of multiple press agencies simultaneously across multiple projects - Acted as primary contact for external partners: producers, directors, publicists, etc. - Content creation: drafted press releases and press kits, selecting marketing assets - Platform outreach: developed and maintained relationships with VOD and MPVD partners to ensure promotional placement for film titles, including iTunes, Comcast, Amazon - Event activation: planned and executed promotional events for films Show less



AMC Networks

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 700 & Above Employee

• Marketing & Public Relations Manager

  • Jul 2015 - Aug 2018

  The first product marketing hire at the launch of AMC Networks’ two direct-to-consumer subscription video on demand services, Shudder & Sundance Now. Developed the value propositions, go-to-market planning and strategic marketing direction both services, resulting in expansion into four international territories and a combined subscriber base of over one million members. Achievements: - Spearheaded brand and original content promotion for two DTC streaming services, resulting in 18% of subscriber growth - Planned and executed PR/marketing around Joe Bob Briggs' 24 hour marathon, bringing in more new viewers at once than ever and crashing the company's servers - Created marketing & PR initiatives around catalog content, leading to traffic spikes of over 500% - Developed and maintained an extensive podcast advertising plan budgeted at over $500,000 annually, resulting in a cost-per-acquisition rate 40% lower than the company average MARKETING: - Supervised marketing campaigns across cross-functional teams both internal (product, tech, customer support) and external (partners, publicists, directors, producers) - Ran event activation, including planning and executing the Sundance Film Festival’s first-ever party in celebration of the Midnight section in 2016 - Supported all marketing activity in across print, digital, email, social media, podcasts, and more. PRESS/COMMUNICATIONS: - Maintained and built press relationships through frequent interaction, acting as lead spokesperson for Shudder with top genre and film press - Acted as primary contact for external partners: producers, directors, publicists, etc. - Developed press materials: writing press releases and press kits, selecting promotional clips, stills, and artwork - Managed the duties of multiple press agencies, both domestically and internationally Show less



Sony Pictures Entertainment

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 700 & Above Employee

• Marketing Coordinator, Advertising and Publicity

  • May 2012 - Jul 2015

  Led the creation of core marketing materials for Sony Pictures Classics, the prestigious independent and foreign film division within Sony Pictures Entertainment, working across 52 films and earning 8 Academy Award wins and 24 nominations. - Led the direction and creation of core marketing materials, including stills, clips, and press kits - Developed and managed relationships with top-tier directors, producers, publicists and managers - Projects included: Whiplash, Foxcatcher, Still Alice, Before Midnight, Blue Jasmine, Searching For Sugar Man, The Raid 2 Show less



Advanced Alternative Media, Inc.

• New York, NY

• College Radio Promoter

  • Sep 2011 - May 2012

  - Promoted records through speaking with college radio music directors across the country - Compiled spreadsheets that chart placement and spins of albums on radio stations - Wrote detailed reports on album performance then send to record labels - Maintained relationships with record labels and radio stations - Attended concerts weekly, discovering new artists and bands to promote - Arranged promotional opportunities for artists and radio stations, including ticket giveaways, in-studio performances and interviews Show less



ABC Studios

• Los Angeles, CA

• Intern - Jimmy Kimmel Live

  • Feb 2010 - Apr 2010

  - Filled out contracts for the casting and music departments - Ran lines during rehearsal - Assisted the field department with organizing and executing remote shoots - Ran notes from the control room to the editors during taping - Filled out contracts for the casting and music departments - Ran lines during rehearsal - Assisted the field department with organizing and executing remote shoots - Ran notes from the control room to the editors during taping



NBCUniversal

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 700 & Above Employee

• Monologue Intern - The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien

  • Jan 2010 - Jan 2010

  - Researched premises for monologue jokes - Distributed the latest versions of all paperwork to the writers - Assisted the monologue writers - Researched premises for monologue jokes - Distributed the latest versions of all paperwork to the writers - Assisted the monologue writers