Courtesy Skidmore College
Guy Mastrion, entrepreneur and creative industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in brand development, digital strategy, advertising, design, photography and film for global brands, was appointed the ninth F. William Harder chair of business at Skidmore College.
Mastrion is founder and chief creative officer of Brandforming, a multidisciplinary creative organization with expertise in design, campaign and digital work dedicated to the creation and transformation of brands. The firm’s clients represent myriad industries including health and wellness, financial services, entertainment, transportation, consumer/packaged goods, food and beverage, travel, automotive and fashion brands, college officials said.
He is also a founding member of Watershed Bridges, a unique network of partner firms established by experienced industry veterans, and dedicated to connecting for a change in healthcare communications.
Prior to founding Brandforming, Mastrion was a co-founder and chief global creative officer of Palio-Ignite, a worldwide healthcare advertising agency helping to establish and grow inVentiv Health. Palio-Ignite was headquartered in Saratoga Springs and grew to have offices in New York City and Irvine, Calif., plus a network of global agency affiliates.
Guy has also held senior creative positions at leading advertising agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi, Bates Worldwide, McCaffrey McCall Partners, Dancer Fitzgerald & Sample and McCann Erickson.
“Guy brings a wealth of practical knowledge, industry expertise, and creative energy to thinking about advertising, branding, and marketing communications,” said Caroline D’Abate, chair of the Department of Management & Business at Skidmore College. “He sees connections between business, psychology, the arts, sciences, history, and so much more, and he brings these connections to life in relevant ways for his clients. We foresee Guy Mastrion becoming an influential and impactful part of the Skidmore community.”
“I’m very honored with the appointment to the Harder chair. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to work directly with a very smart group of people at Skidmore including, of course, the students. Collaborating across multiple disciplines, interests, and areas of study promises to be quite inspiring,” said Mastrion.
Mastrion earned a BFA with a specialization in communications design and photography at Parsons School of Design in New York City.
He replaces Cathy Hill, who has served in the role since 2012.
Established in 1984, the F. William Harder Chair of Business Administration is designed to make possible the appointment of a distinguished executive at the senior level, who will teach a variety of courses, participate in the development of the college’s program in business and in the interactions between the management and business development and the liberal arts program, and enhance Skidmore’s contacts with the leaders of both the Saratoga and the national business communities.