Vanessa Schnabel

Head of Marketing & Communications @Former Spin, WWE, RTL, Disney, EA employee

💸 MarketingBrand Marketing ManagerContent ManagerCommunications ManagerGermanyMarketing Director

Vanessa Schnabel is an accomplished marketing and communications professional with a wealth of experience from some of the most recognizable brands in the world. She is currently the Head of Marketing & Communications at Former Spin, a role she has excelled in by applying her vast industry expertise. Prior to this, she worked at WWE, where she was instrumental in developing and implementing effective marketing strategies. Her career has also seen her hold significant roles at RTL, Disney, and EA, demonstrating her versatility and ability to deliver results in different industries. Vanessa is known for her strategic thinking, creativity, and strong leadership skills.

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Work Background

Spin (Ford Motor Company)Head of Marketing & Communications Germany

Mar. 2020Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen · RemoteI am currently working for the startup Spin Mobility on behalf of Ford, leading the Marketing and Communications department in Germany. My main responsibilities include establishing national and regional marketing strategies, as well as brand and performance marketing campaigns. I also manage local growth initiatives. The goal is to successfully position the Spin brand in the German e-scooter market and build long-term brand awareness, profitability, and customer loyalty in Germany, which is the world’s first international launch destination. I transformed the Spin brand from a US-based B2B brand into a German B2C brand. This involved a complete overhaul of brand positioning, design, and tone for SPIN. We introduced German social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn), as well as a local German website and app, to ensure a consistent German language style and a cohesive brand identity across both B2C and B2B communications. My responsibilities also include PR strategies, thought leadership management, and association communication to increase awareness and media coverage for the Spin brand. Additionally, I handle crisis management to proactively identify issues that could harm Spin Mobility’s public reputation. Building an external network of creative, media, promotion, print, and PR agencies, photographers, associations, and collaborative partners is another aspect of my role. I conduct agency pitches, manage agency relationships, handle budget management, and provide leadership to six external team members for the DACH region. I also mentor four European team members and work as a consultant for the US marketing team.

WWEMarketing Director GSA, Nordics and CEE

Jan. 2018 - Dec. 2020München und Umgebung, DeutschlandIncrease profitability and customer loyalty by developing and executing country specific brand strategies and content partnerships as per business research and plans. Develop brand marketing strategies and manage cross-media campaigns across print, broadcast and online platforms to ensure customers’ expectations and to build credibility of WWE brand for all lines of business: TV/PayTV/VOD, consumer products/licensing, E-Commerce, live events, and digital platforms. Optimise organic traffic and maintain online presence by preparing social media strategies and building strong relationships with social influencers. Selected Contributions: • Directed the marketing bootcamp event and managed the TV casting show production of „WWE 2018 - Tryout – Germany“ by collaborating with the global talent acquisition team of WWE Performance Centre and Pro7 MAXX. • Fostered strong professional relationships with broadcasters, publishers, and producers to ensure the best show placements and programming for the WWE TV productions across media platforms like Pro7 MAXX, Sky Germany, Sport1.de, Yandex.ru, RTL Croatia, and Telekom Sports Rumania and acted like a marketing consultant for these partners. • Improved brand reputation and loyalty by repositioning brand image in Germany through collaboration of marketing partnerships with FMCG, movie, music, music, and media companies. • Developed sports partnerships with the famous soccer clubs Hertha BSC and FC Bayern München and a partnership with Deutsche Sporthilfe to acquire new future WWE athletes and to promote WWE as a brand to a sports interested target group.

RTL DISNEY Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KGSenior Marketing Manager - Team Lead Dreamworks Animation Licensing Team

Jan. 2017 - Dec. 2018Köln und Umgebung, DeutschlandHeaded Super RTL DreamWorks marketing team (4 direct reports) and provided coaching to enhance work performance and productivity. Led cross-functional teams and developed and executed brand marketing campaigns, including TV, cinema, social media and print for the launch of DreamWorks TV series with the target group children and parents. Increased awareness for the SUPER RTL licensing brand portfolio by organising brand partnership summits and fostering strong relationships with B2B licensing partners. Promoted licensing product portfolio for DreamWorks brands through value chain through creation of trade marketing concepts and promotions at retail. Selected Contributions: • Directed the German Free-TV and licensing brand launch strategy of the Netflix TV series "Trollhunters - Tales of Arcadia" at SUPER RTL and creation of a strategically complex Free-TV launch marketing campaign with a cross-functional team and agencies. 3 days after the launch, the highest TV market share was successfully achieved within the target group. • Developed social media music partnership and song & video production for YouTube with social influencers Faye Montana and Annika Sofie for the brand Trolls and generated over a million videos views on YouTube. • Managed the strategic content partnership with NBCUniversal DreamWorks and created launch strategies for the Dreamworks TV formats and licensing brands. Maximized brand awareness by designing marketing strategies and campaigns for DreamWorks television series and licensing brands including Trolls, Dragons, and Trollhunters.

STUDIOCANALMarketing Team Lead - Catalogue Home Entertainment

Jan. 2014 - Dec. 2016Berlin Area, GermanyDefined marketing and product roadmap for a home entertainment catalogue of 3,500 movie products (DVD, Blu-ray and digital) and strategic web projects by developing marketing, commercial and product strategies. Provided supervision in creation of creative campaigns and product packaging with the aim to engage audience and to increase sales. Performed all product management activities and managed product lifecycle of new catalogue products, including planning, forecasting, production, and marketing. Selected Contributions: • Chaired digital and marketing projects to increase retail sales for DVD & Blu-ray products and established the best performing VOD (video on demand) - the ARTHAUS channel - within Watchever.de. • Headed umbrella kids brand “Oscars Club” project and defined communication channels in order to maximize people engagement and awareness • Enhanced brand exposure, streamlined operations, and increased business performance by building brand partnerships and developing strong relationships with key partners. • Led the catalogue home entertainment marketing team and provided marketing guidance and personal coaching to increase work productivity.

HERE TechnologiesGlobal Head of Creative and Campaigns

Dec. 2013 - Dec. 2014Berlin Area, Germany · HybridTeam head of the global campaigns and graphic design team with 5 direct reports: - Project lead of the marketing partnership with the Red Bull Media House: contract negotiations, setup of the partnership, creation of the marketing concept and its implementation within the Red Bull Formula 1 and the Wings for Life Run sponsoring - Responsible for brand partnerships: acquisition of new strategic media partnerships, creation communication concepts, project and partner management - Responsible for the creation of the marketing and creative strategy for consumer products and B2B campaigns for the automotive industry: creation of marketing concepts and creative assets (viral spots, brand trailer, banner and print advertisements), media planning and project management

The Walt Disney CompanyCategory Manager - Toys and Consumer Electronics

Mar. 2012 - Nov. 2013Munich Area, Germany · On-siteMarketing project leadership of the “Disney Princess” brand relaunch: creation and implementation of a marketing strategy including a local creative strategy (TV Spots, ads, website) in partnership with “Disney Princess” licensees, acquisition of new licensees, media planning, TV spot shooting; budget responsibility Responsible for the product categories toys, consumer electronics and seasonal in the DACH area: business development, creation of new product portfolios, product strategy and development close-partnered with the TV and theatrical team, acquisition of new licensees (e.g. Deutsche Telekom, Muse, Jacks Pacific), maximizing royalty sales with existing licensees (Mattel, Rubie´s, Lexibook, ASS Altenburger, and many more), brand responsibility for “Disney Princess”, “Disney Fairies” and “Minnie Mouse”, budget management and sales forecasting

Electronic Arts (EA)Product Marketing Manager GSA

Jan. 2008 - Oct. 2011Cologne Area, Germany · HybridResponsible for the marketing strategies and management of the new release strategies and campaigns for video and browser games in GSA Product portfolio: Harry Potter and the Halfblood-Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and 2, Simanimals, MySims Party, The Sims 3, Darkspore, Rango, Littlest Pet Shop, Monopoly Streets, G.I. Joe, Nerf - Project leadership and functional directive for a taskforce team with 6 team members - Adaption of international marketing and media strategies for local territories (GSA) - Development and implementation of local marketing and media campaigns, event - Trade fair management (Gamescom, YOU) - Acquisition, contract negotiations and project management of brand partnerships and licensing deals for the EA games portfolio - Budget management - Internal reference person for kids and teens marketing, responsible for internal trainings pursuing studies and guidance for kids marketing strategies

TOMORROW FOCUS AGOnline Project Manager

Feb. 2006 - Feb. 2007Hamburg und Umgebung, Deutschland · On-site- Customer consultant for digital projects - Project lead for Web-Advertorials with clients like Volvo, Johnson & Johnson - Customer contact between editorial, technical and media management.

Ludwig SchokoladeMarketingassistent

Aug. 2004 - Jan. 2006Bergisch Gladbach · On-site- Assistant of the brand and trade marketing team - Personal assistant of the CMO - Event organisation for trade fairs and sales meetings - Project lead for chocolate bar packing relaunches - Creation of sales brochures and POS material

InitiativeAusbildung zur Werbekauffrau

Aug. 1998 - Jul. 2000Hamburg Area, Germany · On-site- Creation of tactical and strategic media plans and campaign documentations - Customer service and consulting - Target group and competitor analyses, media market appraisal and media evaluations - Cost calculation and media purchase - Internship at Gruner + Jahr AG & Co KG in the marketing and market research department - Internship at Ammirati Puris Lintas in a customer consulting team