Growth marketing leader
I help businesses decide where to invest and how to grow. I’ve built marketing functions, led teams, and spent 13+ years doing the work behind the results.
Consumer brands · B2B SaaS · Agency leadership
Selected work
My work has ranged from building a marketing function to guiding investment across a global brand portfolio.
PetSafe Brands · Current role
I lead performance marketing strategy and analytics across a global, multi-brand consumer business. I bring paid media, commerce, retail, and revenue data together so leadership can see what is working, where the gaps are, and where to invest next.
Scope: Paid acquisition, portfolio measurement, experimentation, and investment recommendations.
Decisions · B2B SaaS
I rebuilt the connection between who we were reaching, what we were offering, and what happened after the click. Shared pipeline reporting in HubSpot helped Marketing, Sales, and RevOps see the results together.
Selected paid social results from a defined reporting period. The work involved Marketing, Sales, and RevOps.
Realigned targeting and messaging with the ideal customer profile. Tested audiences and creative, then addressed friction after the click.
Reorganized campaigns by country and go-to-market motion. Used intent data to make targeting more relevant to the pipeline we wanted to build.
Connected campaign activity to pipeline in HubSpot, giving the team a shared basis for forecasts, performance reviews, and investment decisions.
Agital · Agency leadership
Led teams of up to five specialists and oversaw more than $1M in monthly media spend. Set account strategy and testing priorities, and built senior client relationships around shared business goals.
gen.video · Marketing leadership
Joined as the first full-time marketer. Built the foundations for demand generation, lifecycle marketing, and measurement, then hired and managed two direct reports as the function grew.
Kore.ai · Product-led growth
Improved onboarding, lifecycle messaging, and activation paths as part of a product-led growth initiative, helping turn initial interest into product adoption.
In their words
“He has a rare ability to move between the details of paid media and the broader business picture. ... I would recommend him without hesitation to any organization looking for a growth leader who combines hands-on expertise with sound judgment and collaborative leadership.”
“Ryan brought a deep understanding of both brand and demand platforms to Decisions ... always eager to test new creative, explore emerging platforms, and find fresh approaches to challenges.”
“His analytical mindset and proficiency in data interpretation have been instrumental in optimizing marketing efforts and maximizing returns on investment. Moreover, Ryan is an excellent collaborator and team player.”
“Ryan’s ability to grow portfolios while nurturing a strong client relationship is truly a skill that isn’t easily learned, and is what continued to make him a rising star on our team!”
“His recommendations and team leadership played a key role in helping the company successfully reposition and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.”
Senior Global DTC Manager
PetSafe Brands
Ryan is one of the strongest cross-functional partners I have worked with at PetSafe Brands. We collaborate closely across DTC, performance marketing, analytics, and growth, and he consistently brings a sharp strategic perspective, strong execution, and a genuine commitment to getting the work right.
He has a rare ability to move between the details of paid media and the broader business picture. Ryan translates complex performance data into clear priorities, practical recommendations, and better investment decisions. He is also highly collaborative and works effectively across teams to keep initiatives moving forward.
Ryan is thoughtful, dependable, and genuinely enjoyable to work with. His partnership has made our work stronger, and I would recommend him without hesitation to any organization looking for a growth leader who combines hands-on expertise with sound judgment and collaborative leadership.
Former CMO, Decisions
Ryan brought a deep understanding of both brand and demand platforms to Decisions, and knows how to blend best practices with practical strategy to drive efficiency.
What stood out about Ryan was his willingness to push beyond the status quo - always eager to test new creative, explore emerging platforms, and find fresh approaches to challenges.
Ryan also fully embraced the shift toward AI-powered marketing. While others viewed it with skepticism, he recognized it as an asset: A tool to accelerate growth, not a threat to replace it.
I'd recommend Ryan to any team looking for a dependable marketing professional with strong platform knowledge and a growth mindset.
VP of GTM Strategy, Kore.ai
During my time working with Ryan, he has shown a remarkable ability to develop and execute comprehensive marketing strategies that have significantly contributed to the growth and success of our products. His talent in creating compelling messaging and positioning has not only helped in increasing product awareness but has also effectively influenced our target audience's perception and purchase decisions.
One of Ryan's greatest strengths is his keen market insights. He possesses an innate ability to identify market trends and customer needs, allowing them to tailor marketing campaigns that resonate with our target audience. His analytical mindset and proficiency in data interpretation have been instrumental in optimizing marketing efforts and maximizing returns on investment. Moreover, Ryan is an excellent collaborator and team player. He effortlessly liaises with cross-functional teams, such as sales, design, and product development, fostering a cohesive and cooperative work environment. His exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, make him an influential communicator.
Furthermore, his proactive and results-driven attitude ensures that marketing campaigns are continuously improved based on data-driven insights and customer feedback. This dedication to the pursuit of constant improvement and learning has had a direct impact on the overall success of our marketing initiatives.
I have had the pleasure of working closely with Ryan, and I can confidently say that he is an invaluable asset to any product marketing team. His passion for the industry, creativity, and ability to adapt quickly to market and team dynamics make them a standout performer. Without reservation, I highly recommend Ryan Connors for any product marketing position. His dedication, expertise, attitude, and exceptional work ethic will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and success of any organization he joins.
Former Managing Partner, Agital
Ryan is the ultimate go-getter and truly a fantastic person to work with! Ryan has a knack for being able to identify areas of digital marketing opportunities that truly align with his client’s goals, and he takes it upon himself to learn all he can about new possibilities. As Ryan’s manager it was exciting to see him take a challenge and turn it into a positive experience. Ryan’s ability to grow portfolios while nurturing a strong client relationship is truly a skill that isn’t easily learned, and is what continued to make him a rising star on our team!
Client, Miracle Mink Hair
Ryan is an exceptional team player and highly skilled project manager. He oversaw one of my client accounts and managed every detail with precision and professionalism. His organizational skills, quick thinking, and strong leadership abilities consistently elevated the workflow and kept the team aligned.
What truly sets Ryan apart is his ability to provide strategic, analytical, and directional support while maintaining the internal structure and integrity of a brand. He doesn't just manage projects - he strengthens systems.
His recommendations and team leadership played a key role in helping the company successfully reposition and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
I highly recommend Ryan for any organization seeking structured leadership, thoughtful strategy, and results-driven execution.
How I work
Before I recommend a channel or a bigger budget, I want to understand the customer, the economics, and what is getting in the way.
I stay accountable for the recommendation and involved in making it work.
Look across the offer, media, creative, conversion, and retention. Work out where the customer journey breaks down and which problem is worth solving first.
Set priorities, agree on what success looks like, and make ownership clear. Keep Marketing, Sales, and leadership working from the same picture.
Test a specific idea about the audience, offer, creative, or customer experience. Use what we learn to decide what to do next.
Use revenue, margin, and incremental contribution to guide investment. Scale what is working and change course when the evidence calls for it.
Strategy · Systems · Execution
I’m comfortable setting the direction in a leadership meeting and working through the account, report, or customer journey that needs attention.
Turn business goals into priorities, budgets, and a plan the team can execute. Develop people, build trust across functions, and give leadership clear recommendations.
Get the audience, offer, and creative working together. Stay hands-on with campaign structure, bidding, and testing across paid search and social.
Connect platform data to pipeline and revenue. Build reporting and forecasts that help people make a decision and understand the trade-offs.
Improve what happens after the click, from landing pages and lead nurturing to onboarding, activation, and retention.
Beyond work
I’m based in Manchester, New Hampshire. Away from work, I’m usually on a trail, at yoga, or finding a reason to bring my camera along.
171 peaks and counting
Let’s connect
Have a marketing challenge on your mind, or a team you’re building? I’d be glad to hear from you.
