PAUL JON OSEN
W: WWW.PAULOSEN.COM P: 212-920-9991 E. PAULJONOSEN@GMAIL.COM
CORE COMPETENCIES
Creative Leadership: Team Building, Mentoring, Coaching, Talent Development. Strategic Campaign Management: 360-Degree Integrated Campaigns, Brand Development Multicultural Insights: Emerging Markets, Diverse Audiences, Cultural Relevance, Creative Direction: Digital, Social, Traditional Advertising, Emerging Technologies, Client Relations & Business Growth: National & Global Brand Leadership, Client Strategy, New Business Development: Pitch Leadership, Cross-functional Team Collaboration, Agency Culture & Recruitment: Building Inclusive, High-Performance Teams
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Award-winning Creative Director and Brand Strategist with a proven track record in leading large-scale, integrated campaigns that resonate with multicultural and emerging markets. Over 50 industry accolades from prestigious competitions, including American Advertising Federation Mosaic Awards, ANA, Telly, and the CableFax Awards. Recognized by Advertising Age and featured on the cover of Screen Magazine as a top industry leader under 29. Notable for partnering with top-tier brands such as NBA, NFL, NBC Universal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, and General Motors to deliver innovative, insights-driven campaigns that drive business results. Expertise in leading diverse, cross-functional teams and fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration within agency environments.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR (CONTRACT) NBA | NEW YORK | 2017 – 2024
• Spearheaded the NBA 2022 USA Election Campaign, which inspired a 27% increase in youth voter turnout (ages 18-29), contributing to the second-highest youth turnout in three decades. The campaign became the flagship effort for the 2024 primary election.
• Co-led creative strategy and execution for key NBA initiatives, including NBA Cares, NBA Foundation, NBPA, and NBA Voices, driving brand awareness and social impact across multiple platforms.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams and external partners to align brand messaging, insights, and creative strategies.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR (FREELANCE) DONER | DETROIT, MI | 2022
• Led creative ideation and development for Jeep’s national and regional campaign pitch, collaborating closely with the client and internal teams to refine strategy and execution.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR (FREELANCE) CHE' CREATIVE | NEW YORK | 2020 – 2021
• Directed creative concepts development for Amazon Studios’ Black History Month 2022 campaign, creating the #RemarkablyBlack platform to support underserved online businesses.
• Co-led the creative pitch for Rocket Mortgage’s Super Bowl campaign, enhancing the brand’s visibility and appeal through compelling storytelling.
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR BURRELL COMMUNICATIONS | CHICAGO, IL | 2011 – 2017
• Led creative teams in the execution of high-impact national campaigns for clients such as Comcast, Xfinity, Toyota, NBC Universal, and McDonald’s, resulting in significant brand growth within multicultural segments.
• Developed and implemented integrated campaigns leveraging mobile technology, significantly boosting McDonald’s brand awareness and expanding its presence in the mobile app entertainment space.
• Coached and mentored junior to senior creative talent, fostering an environment of growth and innovation.
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR LEO BURNETT / VIGILANTE | NEW YORK | 2005 – 2011
• Drove creative strategy and execution for General Motors, including the revitalization of the Buick brand, contributing to the brand’s successful renaissance and market expansion.
• Collaborated across agency teams to execute multi-faceted campaigns that exceeded client expectations and deepened brand loyalty.
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR UNIWORLD GROUP | NEW YORK | 2003 – 2005
• Developed strategic advertising campaigns for key clients, including Ford Motor Company and Burger King, leading creative direction for impactful multicultural campaigns.
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR GLOBAL HUE | DETROIT, MI | 2000 – 2003
• Led creative development for national campaigns for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Verizon Wireless, and the U.S. Navy, establishing a deep understanding of diverse consumer markets and driving impactful, results-oriented campaigns.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Michigan State University (MSU) | Guest Lecturer, Capstone Course Client
Columbia College Chicago (CCC) | Guest Lecturer, Portfolio Review, Agency Recruitment
Macomb Community College (MCC) | Media & Communications Arts - Associates Degree Focus
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & AWARDS JUDGING
American Advertising Federation (AAF) Mosaic Awards – Award Show JudgeOne Club Creative Boot Camp (GCD) – Award Show Judge
International ANDY Awards – Award Show Judge
Philadelphia ADDY Awards – Award Show Judge
CLIENT EXPERIENCE
National Basketball Association, McDonald’s, Comcast, Xfinity, NBC Universal, Microsoft, NFL, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Toyota, United States Navy, Amazon, Stellantis Jeep, City Of Chicago, Verizon, Michigan Department Of Community Health, Guardian Glass, Partnership