Chris Gray Faust

About Chris Gray Faust

I’m a global content and communications leader who helps organizations tell stronger stories, build trusted brands, and engage audiences across cultures and regions.Over a 30+ year career spanning media, technology, and large-scale digital platforms, I’ve led high-impact campaigns, shaped narrative strategy, managed multidisciplinary teams, and guided organizations through major shifts in how they communicate and connect with the world.My leadership blends strategic storytelling, audience insight, creative direction, and data-driven decision making. I’m equally comfortable overseeing a complex global campaign, directing a creative team, optimizing a digital ecosystem, or partnering with executives to translate mission into message.Most recently as Executive Editor — and now Content Innovation Editor — at Cruise Critic (a TripAdvisor company), I’ve led enterprise initiatives that reached millions, strengthened brand identity, modernized content operations, and introduced AI-driven tools and workflows. I’ve also forged deep relationships with global partners and navigated sensitive communications environments with clarity and integrity.I am passionate about mission-driven storytelling, the power of communications to improve understanding and drive impact, and the ways digital innovation can broaden access to information and elevate diverse voices.Core strengths include:• Global storytelling & narrative development• Integrated campaigns (paid/owned/earned)• Brand strategy & reputation leadership• Creative direction & cross-platform content ecosystems• Digital transformation & AI-enabled workflows• Cross-functional, matrixed team leadership• Data and insights for strategy shaping• Partnership, stakeholder & executive communication• Crisis, issue & sensitive topic navigationIf your organization is working to inspire, educate, or engage people for a greater purpose, I’d love to connect.

Experience

1. Content Innovation Executive Editor

   Cruise Critic

   Apr 2025 — Present

   Lead enterprise-wide digital innovation, including AI-enabled content workflows, emerging platform strategy, and next-generation storytelling formats.Led the company’s most ambitious campaign — 30 Cruises, 30 Days — delivering 7M+ social reach, 25M+ ad impressions, 2.4M+ video views,+22% brand awareness,+10% favorability, and $200K+ incremental revenue.Partner across Marketing, SEO, CRM, Social, Product and Sales to modernize content operations and align audience strategy with business goals.Develop new content experiences (interactive tools, platform-native storytelling, dynamic summaries, multimedia enhancements) to expand reach and engagement.Co-lead cross-department initiatives such as the New Ships Strikeforce, increasing visibility and performance for major launches.Continue to serve as senior editorial advisor on brand voice, narrative strategy, and creative direction.

Education

• Northwestern University

  Bachelors, Medill School of Journalism

• Wine & Spirit Education Trust

  Level 3 - Passed with Merit, Theory

  2017 — 2017

• Wine & Spirit Education Trust

  WSET Level 2 - Passed with Distinction

  2016 — 2016

• Brown University

  Masters, American Civilization

Skills

• Copywriting
• Journalism
• Cruising
• Restaurants
• Editing
• Content Development
• Social Media
• Hotels
• Breaking News
• Web Content
• Travel Writing
• Storytelling
• Creative Direction
• Blogging
• Newspaper
• Digital Media
• New Media