Rick Gore
Illustration of Rick Gore
Solver of problems · Maker of things

Creative leadership that drives the business.

Thirty years building brands, leading teams, and shipping the work, inside both agencies and in-house. I partner with CMOs and marketing leaders as a senior creative executive, full-time or fractional, depending on what your team needs.

Trusted by in-house teams at

Thirty years building brands, teams, and the work that actually moves the business.

I've spent my career walking into creative organizations that needed clarity and leaving them stronger. Sometimes that meant building a function from two people to twelve. Sometimes it meant landing a rebrand that had been stuck for a year. Sometimes it meant taking a tired conference and turning it into an award-winning summit.

I work agency-side and in-house with equal fluency. I partner with CMOs as a peer, not a vendor. I've led identity systems, demand campaigns, content programs, experiential events, and the operating models that make all of it function at scale.

What I bring to a marketing org is a senior creative leader who has done the job before, knows what good looks like, and won't need a year to ramp.

Selected impact

Grew creative demand year-over-year at Avalara by installing an agency-style operating model.

2 → 12

Built the Avalara creative function from two people while raising output quality.

10%+

Campaign CTR vs. 2-3% industry benchmark across 50+ campaigns.

620%

Attendance growth for Avalara's CRUSH summit. Telly Gold and Silver winner.

Recognition

Telly Gold + Silver · The Seattle Show (Gold + Best of Show) · Interactive Media Awards (Best in Class) · Communication Arts (multiple) · Print Regional Design Annual · GDUSA · HOW Books

What the people I've worked with actually say.

"

Working with Rick is like being on an epiphany carousel. He often strings together a course of action from seemingly thin air.

Rocha Dollar Airbnb
"

A gifted visionary with meticulous attention to detail. He can't help it. High standards. Direct, yet gentle in offering creative direction.

Robyn Luk Deloitte Digital
"

I was continuously impressed by his magician-like dexterity pulling innovative, customer-focused experiences out of his designer tool box. What if? and Why not? are Rick's guiding principles.

A-M Petersons Avalara
"

Technically-minded and understanding in a way that is refreshing. Bridging the gap between creative and dev with thoughtful questions and valued criticism.

Rick Pierce Stitch
Get in touch

Let's talk.

If you're hiring, building a team, or thinking about creative leadership for your organization, I'd like to hear from you.

Email me