Chuck Casto

Professional Experience Summary

I've spent two decades building communications functions that generate measurable revenue, establish category leadership, and transform brands into household names. My career spans high-growth SaaS platforms, Fortune 500 CPG brands, e-commerce disruptors, and global PR agencies—consistently delivering billion-impression campaigns that drive bottom-line results.

Building Revenue-Generating Communications Functions

At Alignable, I served as Head of Communications, Content Marketing, Research & News for seven years, where I co-founded the Research Center in partnership with Harvard Business School and MIT economists. This proprietary research engine generated over 5 billion impressions and $50+ million in earned media value annually, securing consistent coverage in Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, CNN, and top-tier business outlets. I also pioneered the Local Business Person of the Year contest, growing participation 1,100% over six years and proving that contest winners were 33x more likely to become premium members—directly contributing to a 20% lift in new member revenue.

As Managing Editor for Alignable's weekly newsletter, I researched, interviewed, and wrote member success stories for 2.6 million subscribers, demonstrating that 40-90% of their revenue came from network referrals. I led performance marketing teams executing 30+ million emails per campaign cycle, achieving 35-40% open rates through sophisticated segmentation and automation.

At Wayfair, I was employee #200 and built the company's first Global Communications Department from scratch—scaling from one person with a $50K budget to a 10-person team managing $750K. Over five years, I generated 7.5 billion impressions and 30,000+ media placements, while directly driving $3+ million in revenue from PR campaigns and social media contests. I achieved 70-800% sales growth across key product lines and led communications for Wayfair's complex rebrand from 200+ CSN Stores to a unified brand identity.

Agency & Premium Brand Expertise

Earlier in my career, I led communications for Fortune 500 brands at top-tier agencies including Weber Shandwick, Ketchum, and Earle Palmer Brown. I managed major accounts like Miller Brewing Company, Harley-Davidson, Bank of America, Kraft Heinz, and Nestlé Purina, overseeing $4.2 million in fees while generating $1 million in new business and $500K in account expansion.

I've also directed luxury brand marketing for AllModern (Wayfair's premium division), launched ultra-premium spirits like Sundsvall Vodka, and introduced limited-edition Haagen-Dazs flavors to top lifestyle publications.

Core Capabilities:

• Strategic media relations securing tier-one coverage
• Content marketing & lifecycle email campaigns driving conversions
• Research partnerships establishing thought leadership
• Social media strategies generating measurable revenue
• SEO/GEO optimization boosting domain authority
• Crisis communications & reputation management
• Team building & budget management

I combine strategic vision with hands-on execution, thriving in environments where communications drives growth, not just awareness.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brown University with a B.A. in Political Science. 

Then I went on to Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism for an M.S. in Broadcast Journalism.