Austin Weedfall

Professional Experience

 

Current:

Director, Corporate Communications at VAST Data

New York, NY (remote) | February 2023 - Present

• VAST Data corporate PR lead, setting and managing global media strategy, developing all company press releases, working with executives and subject matter experts and marketing team on corporate messaging and positioning

• PR strategic counsel to C-suite and executive spokespeople, corporate communications measurement and reporting lead

• Directly managing US agency and supporting management of all global agencies, while leading and coordinating internal teams for better alignment and strategic planning​

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Previous:

Senior Manager, Public Relations at NetApp

Sunnyvale, CA (remote) | December 2019 - February 2023

• Led, created and executed global communications strategy/plans for NetApp’s entire product portfolio, driving increased thought leadership and share of voice in the market across target publications

• Strategic counsel to members of executive staff, subject matter experts and spokespeople, and serving as a global liaison, aligning to corporate messaging and positioning, and coordinating/influencing media engagements

• Managed agencies, coaching joint teams, creating news-jacking opportunities and pitches, with an ability to deliver quality results from relationships with T1 business, tech and trade media - and contextualizing value for executive staff

 

Director, Hotwire

- Senior Account Manager, Hotwire

- Program Manager, Hotwire 

New York, NY / Chicago, IL — May 2015 - December 2019

Clients: Amdocs, Avecto, Barclaycard, CommScope, Commvault, DataStax, FoodLogiQ, MapR, NetApp (multiple business units), Qlik, Sierra Wireless

• ​Managed comms programs and account direction for over $2.5 million in client revenue + organic growth per year

• ​Client relationship manager, working with business leads to align corporate objectives with marketing/comms/PR strategy in order to solve business pain for B2B enterprise technology companies

• Drove strategy and execution of integrated comms plans (paid, earned, shared and owned media) and campaigns for major launches, user conferences, supporting keynotes and executive prep, customer/partner reference programs, media/influencer engagement, content development, etc. and mentored junior staff/direct reports to meet KPIs and deliver quality results for clients to increase brand awareness, elevate position against competitors, increase customer stickiness and led institution of new best practices for measurement and reporting

 

Senior Account Manager, Hotwire

New York, NY — September 2016 - November 2018

Clients: Barlaycard, CommScope, Commvault, DataStax, NetApp, Sierra Wireless, SpareRoom

• Managed program strategy and execution for over $1.5 million in client revenue + organic growth

• ​Helped develop and lead new business proposals and contributed to marketing and biz dev efforts

• ​Client relationship manager, worked with business leads to align corporate objectives with marketing/communications/PR programs in order to impact the business

• ​Managed account direction and mentored colleagues at the intern, AC, AE, SAE and AM levels (with one SAE direct report) - while reporting to one executive sponsor (SVP) on accounts

• ​Developed integrated PR and social campaigns to elevate presence and increase brand awareness across paid, earned and owned media

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Program Manager, Hotwire

New York, NY — May 2015 - September 2016

Clients: Qlik, Amdocs, MapR, Barclaycard, FoodLogiQ, CommScope, Commvault, Sierra Wireless, SpareRoom, Indeed.com, Avecto, Auth0, Proto Labs, WorldRemit and more.

• ​Manage campaign execution for over $1 million in client revenue 

• ​Helped win over $500k in new business, securing four of Hotwire's largest and highest profile clients in the US

• ​Coordinate with client to develop monthly SOW/KPIs and PR programs to drive strong campaigns and deliver expected results

• ​Managed and mentored colleagues at the intern, APE, PE and SPE levels - and worked very closely with SVPs to meet business objectives

• ​Develop integrated PR and social campaigns to elevate presence and increase brand awareness across paid, earned and owned media
   

Senior Account Executive, Brainerd Communicators

New York, NY — September 2014 - April 2015

Clients: PwC Technology, PwC Geo Marketing, PwC Real Estate, Normandy Real Estate Partners, Fishbowl

• ​Helped to manage multiple sectors of business for a $3 million account, leveraging thought leadership to improve executive visibility via media coverage, awards and speaking opportunities in target markets across multiple verticals

• Built relationships and secured media opportunities in top-tier, trade and local publications, with the ability to recognize issues jump opportunities and market trends

• Created press releases, social content, award nominations, and new business decks and mentored junior staff

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Client Executive, Burson-Marsteller

New York, NY — December 2013 - September 2014​

Clients: GlaxoSmithKline, Merkle, Intel, Bank of America – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Hewlett-Packard

• Secured various media opportunities with target trade/local press for executive spokespeople

• Assisted in the development, coordination and assembly of intensive influencer mapping projects

• Lead and assisted with spokesperson interviews and communications plan/strategy for various initiatives

• Developed digital strategy as well as creative social and editorial content and multiple decks for client use

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Junior Associate, Finn Partners

New York, NY — June 2012 - December 2013​

Clients: Logitech, Hotels.com, Vonage, Jamba Juice, Verizon Foundation, Hyundai Hope on Wheels

• Secured coverage with consumer/tech media, proactively pitching creative angles and building relationships 

• Community management, developing engaging social and blog content and leading influencer/ambassador relations 

• Facilitated several events, managing logistics, media outreach, client demos, and offering technical support

• Owned coverage monitoring of 70+ high-profile tech products, with 15 product launches in four-month span

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International Internship - Weber Shandwick and Rogers & Cowan

London, UK — 2011​

Clients: EDF Energy, Oreo, Exxon Mobil 1, Mitsubishi

• Successfully pitched reporters to secure interest in client stories

• Wrote daily news summaries and created and edited coverage reports

• Actively contributed to brainstorms and performed research for several new business pitches

• Coordinated with television and film production companies to develop product placement opportunities for clients

• Created and edited new proposals and video reels for client coverage