CHRIS WEILAND
Creative leader and strategist with 18+ years of experience guiding award-winning campaigns across brand, cause, and digital channels. As Vice President and Group Creative Director at RKD Group, Chris leads cross-disciplinary teams to connect data-driven insights with emotionally resonant storytelling that drives engagement and revenue for mission-driven brands. Known for elevating creative quality, growing client partnerships, and mentoring emerging leaders, he brings both agency rigor and purpose-driven vision to every project. Campaigns under his direction have earned Maxi, Communicator, DotCOMM, AVA, Hermes, and Viddy Awards. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference.
RKD GROUP
VP, GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR January 2025 - Present
GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR August 2023 - January 2025
CREATIVE DIRECTOR July 2021 - July 2023
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR May 2019 - June 2021
• Lead a multidisciplinary team of 10+ creatives, including two Creative Directors, in developing innovative, multi-channel fundraising campaigns for leading nonprofit brands
• Drive agency and departmental growth by elevating creative standards, recruiting and mentoring talent, and fostering collaboration across disciplines
• Translate audience insights and performance data into creative strategies that consistently lift response, revenue, and long-term donor value
• Serve as a senior brand consultant, guiding positioning and creative direction for clients and new business prospects
• Strengthen client partnerships through trust, collaboration, and results—expanding creative scopes and agency revenue
• Contribute to agency growth through RFP leadership and new business wins, including Lions Clubs International Foundation, Feed the Children, Children International, North Texas Food Bank, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Doctors Without Borders
• Champion agency-wide initiatives on behalf of the SVP, Executive Creative Director, shaping culture and creative process
• Direct award-winning campaigns, earning Maxi, Communicator, DotCOMM, AVA, Hermes, and Viddy Awards for creative excellence and fundraising performance
THE MArketing arm
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR 2017 - April 2019
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR 2012 - 2017
ART DIRECTOR August 2011 - 2012
• Worked in step with AT&T’s Brand Director to execute brand vision across media including experiential activations, promotional logo design, social media, and print advertising
• Managed AT&T’s sponsorship creative for 112+ sports and events properties including MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAA, Olympic NGB, Tribeca Film Festival, Golf, and Red Bull Racing
• Supervised Art Directors and Designers to create compelling, contextually-relevant visuals
• Initiated and led “Design in the Know” share outs of leader-brand industry creative with clients
• Worked with conceptors as a visual storyteller by creating presentations for new business pitches
• Developed AT&T brand guidelines for AT&T sponsorship within sports and events contexts
• Represented the agency in creative presentations to various AT&T business units
latitude-the richards group
ART DIRECTOR July 2007 - July 2011
• Developed concepts in alignment with creative briefs within time constraints
• Worked with food clients such as Red Lobster, Weight Watchers, Lala, and Schreiber
• Traveled to present creative concepts and post-production layouts to clients
• Created mockups for client presentations, internal use, and focus group testing
• Led art direction for photographers and stylists on photoshoots
• Developed digital guides for photographers, production artists, and retouchers
• Managed retouchers, production artists, and illustrators within timelines
• Oversaw multiple projects simultaneously in a team-oriented environment
Education
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN MARCOS
BFA - Communication Design [Art Direction] Spring 2007
Minor - Psychology
AWARDS
ADCH Show 2006 (Silver: Single Ad, Bronze: 3 Ad Campaign)
Creative Summit 2007 (TV Spot)