Chris is Divisional Vice President of Global Brand Strategy and Innovation at Abbott where he leads the global brand expression and digital teams, as well as innovation in the marketing and advertising space. This includes responsibilities for evolving Abbott’s corporate brand and setting the company’s marketing vision and direction in the digital, mobile and social space.

Chris joined Abbott in 2013, and prior to joining Abbott he spent his career on the agency side of the advertising - marketing business. Most recently spending five years at IPG agency FCB as the Global Chief Digital Officer, working with clients including Taco Bell, Oreo, Nivea, Discover Financial, and Cox Communications.

Prior to FCB he was the founder of Tractiv, which Omnicom acquired in 2005 to build out its digital competencies, leading the Omnicom agency Element 79, as the Chief Digital Officer. He started his career at Leo Burnett growing from manger to EVP/director. And while there, he founded and led chemistri, one of the top interactive agencies in North America, and where he worked on the US Army, Nintendo, Allstate, Adidas, Disney, Coca Cola, Kelloggs and McDonald’s

Chris is a past member of Apple’s Customer Advisory Board and has been a frequent speaker at industry events and universities. He’s continued his contribution to the industry as a judge for Effies, IAB MIXX awards, and on the 2013 Cannes Lions mobile jury.

He is a graduate of Drake University’s Journalism program, with a triple major in: advertising, radio/TV and media graphics—graduating one class shy of a fourth major in psychology.