David Gleason | Expertise in Media, Strategy, and Insights
Unveiling Insights, Crafting Strategies
David Gleason—a distinguished leader in entertainment research, brand strategy, and consumer insights. With over two decades of experience shaping the future of media, he transforms industry challenges into opportunities for meaningful growth and innovation.
About David Gleason
David Gleason is a visionary media executive with deep expertise in research and strategy, recognized for his ability to transform complex data into compelling business narratives. He has served in senior leadership roles for some of the most influential organizations in entertainment, including NBCUniversal, OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network), and Disney Channel. Throughout his tenure at these industry leaders, he has been instrumental in shaping audience engagement strategies and driving brand growth across diverse platforms. His work integrates a profound understanding of consumer behavior with cutting-edge insights, enabling brands to resonate deeply with audiences in an ever-evolving digital landscape. By bridging the gap between traditional media frameworks and emerging technologies, Gleason ensures that content remains impactful and relevant in an increasingly fragmented global market.
David Gleason’s Lecture at the University of Pennsylvania
David Gleason, Ph.D., W’90, ASC ’95, GR’99, serves as the Senior Vice President and Strategy Director at Publicis New York, a prominent advertising and media services agency known for its high-profile clients such as Citi, BMW, Prilosec, Nyquil, and Pepto-Bismol. With a career that spans from his academic roots at Penn to his roles at MTV Networks and Ogilvy & Mather, David offers a candid perspective on the exhilarating highs and substantial challenges that define the contemporary advertising landscape.
Whether running research for streaming platforms or advising on organizational change, David approaches each opportunity with a meticulous, reflective perspective, tailoring strategies that deliver measurable impact.
Driven by a lifelong passion for storytelling and a dedication to informed decision-making, David stands as a vital, trusted advisor for leadership teams. He specializes in helping these executives navigate the fluctuating tides and rapid transformations of the modern entertainment and advertising industries. By offering strategic guidance rooted in both narrative craft and data-driven insights, he ensures that organizations can thrive amidst constant market shifts.
A Legacy of Leadership in Strategy and Insights
Senior Vice President, Strategy and Insights | Peacock/DTC (2019 – 2024)
Guided strategic research and insights during the launch of NBCUniversal’s premiere streaming platform. David excelled in aligning viewer data with content strategy to optimize user engagement and satisfaction.
Senior Vice President, Research | OWN (2009 – 2013)
Honed and directed initiatives that bridged the gap between Oprah Winfrey’s unique vision and evolving audience expectations. His leadership solidified OWN’s foundation as a household name in emotionally resonant programming.
Other Key Roles:
- Senior Vice President, Direct-to-Consumer & Digital Enterprises | NBCUniversal
- Senior Vice President, Research | E! Networks
- Senior Partner, Strategy Director | Publicis
David’s rich trajectory includes several other notable positions shaping the media narrative at MTV Networks, Ogilvy + Mather, and beyond.
Academic Excellence
David’s intellect is sharpened by prestigious credentials reflecting his lifelong commitment to understanding media and communications:
- Ph.D., Communications/Media Studies – University of Pennsylvania
- M.S., Communications – University of Pennsylvania
- B.S., Economics/Finance – The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Widely regarded for his academic rigor, these institutions enriched David’s ability to merge analytical thinking with creative ingenuity.
Core Skills
- Digital Media & Strategy
- Consumer Analytics & Insights
- Marketing & Brand Research
- Broadcast and Streaming Analysis
- Organizational Structure & Change Management
David masterfully weaves these capabilities into strategies that propel organizations forward, always staying attuned to the evolving dynamics of media consumption.
Get in Touch with David Gleason
Elevate your project with expertise that delivers results. Reach out to David to learn how he can align actionable strategy with your brand’s unique vision.
- Email: davidsgleason@gmail.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidsgleason
David Steele Gleason Posts
- The Weaponization of Therapy Speak: When “Self-Care” Becomes Cruelty
Modern interpersonal relationships increasingly feature what many critics call the weaponization of therapy speak, and similarly, the weaponization of clinical psychological terminology. For instance, terms such as boundaries and self-care often serve as linguistic… - Same-Sex Relationship Dictionary Loss: The Year of Heavy Silence
David initiated our divorce over a year ago. The deepest pain is forgetting our private language. The silence of same-sex relationship dictionary loss forces me to confront shattered memories in an empty apartment. - The Silent Erasure of a Childless Queer Divorce
Key Takeaways / Summary My twenty-year marriage to David ended in a devastating silence. Because we had no children, our shared community completely vanished from my life. I am left grappling with erased memories…
- How Divorce Erases Your Past: A Gay Man’s Perspective
KEY TAKEAWAYS The emotional impact of gay divorce remains largely unstudied by modern psychology. Researchers lack sufficient data because marriage equality represents a relatively new legal right. Consequently, couples navigate profound emotional trauma without…
- The Illusion of the Present: Curating the Artifacts of a Dead Relationship
Key Takeaways This article examines the psychological toll of emotional taxidermy following a sudden divorce. I explore how curated domestic spaces trap us in a static identity. The Illusion of the Present: Curating the…
- The Architecture of Abandonment: Surviving Sudden Divorce
Once my life overflowed with sustaining love and connection. Then my husband abruptly ended our twenty-year relationship through divorce. This traumatic departure removed all affection from my daily existence and left me grappling with…
