Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, recently announced the promotion of Chris Gard to Vice President of Marketing, Communications (MARCOM) and Creative under the Growth and Strategy team. Through this position, he will lead strategic marketing initiatives to expand Feed the Children’s existing audience and help amplify the nonprofit’s mission to provide hope and resources for those without life's essentials.
Charged with leading the marketing, creative, communications and public relations teams, Gard will focus on evolving the organization’s voice, tone and international brand. He will also work closely with international and U.S. leadership to increase visibility and awareness around Feed the Children’s programs. Gard aims to bring his prior entertainment and technology experience to the nonprofit to take the discussion of childhood hunger in a new direction. Utilizing this new strategy, Feed the Children will focus on telling stories that are disruptive to the way the nonprofit industry is currently representing childhood hunger.
“We are thrilled to have Chris on our team to lead our strategic marketing initiatives,” said Colleen Ridenhour, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer for Feed the Children. “Through his leadership, our team will focus on telling the impactful stories of families and children who experience poverty and food insecurity across the world. We want to engage new audiences with Feed the Children’s mission and show that hope is possible in the fight against childhood hunger.”
Prior to joining Feed the Children in 2021 as Senior Director of Marketing and Creative, Gard worked as a marketing and creative professional for more than 30 years. Throughout his career, Gard has received more than 100 industry awards, including Emmy, Promax and Telly awards. He spent the first half of his career as a director and designer for NBCUniversal, before becoming Director of Creative for Lionsgate TV Guide. He then took his experience into the technology industry, where he led Apple’s worldwide Creative Services department and also worked for the Silicon Valley unicorn start-up Picsart as Head of Global Creative.
Gard hails from Richland, Washington and currently resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.