Equal parts marketer and futurist, Greg Verdino is a recognized expert on marketing innovation, emerging media and Web 2.0.  He works as Chief Strategy Officer at crayon, a conversational marketing consultancy.  His unique, sometimes controversial, perspectives on media and marketing are presented at http://gregverdino.typepad.com, one of the web’s most influential marketing blogs 

In his leadership role at crayon, Greg leverages over 17 years of experience in online media, advertising, marketing and technology to head the company’s strategic advisory and conversational marketing practices.  He provides crayon’s clients with thought leadership on how they can join online and offline conversations, effectively influence key influencers, engage consumers in meaningful dialogue and tap into the power of new marketing approaches that offer bold alternatives to traditional advertising.

Prior to joining crayon, Greg was VP/Director of Emerging Channels at Digitas, where he and his team advised clients such as American Express, AT&T Wireless and GM on creating compelling brand experiences through emerging platforms such as digital video, mobile, social media, gaming and virtual worlds. 

Greg has worked in emerging media and new technologies since 1998 when, as Vice President/General Manager of Arbitron NewMedia, he produced a number of groundbreaking studies in consumer online media usage behavior and the impacts of convergence on traditional media channels.  Greg has also held strategic marketing and sales positions at Akamai Technologies, Loudeye, Globix Corporation and ROO Online Broadcast Network.  Greg began his career as an advertising executive at Wunderman, Blau Marketing Technologies, Saatchi & Saatchi and Geer DuBois. 

In addition to blogging, Greg has written for MediaPost’s OMMA magazine, iMedia Connection and MarketingProfs.com.  He has been profiled in and quoted by a wide variety of business and news media including Advertising Age, Adweek, Business Week, Forbes, New York Times, Newsday and the Wall Street Journal.  Greg is also an active speaker whose recent appearances include DM Days New York, OMMA Hollywood, WidgetCon2007, Virtual Worlds 2007, several IAB Leadership Forums, and many others.

He lives on Long Island with his wife and daughter, but you’re more likely to find him online.