Global Communications & Brand Reputation Strategist
Ariel "Ari" Gavilan is an award-winning, multilingual, and multicultural global communications practitioner, with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of communications, marketing, brand building, journalism, and academia.
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, he studied and worked as a journalist producing some of the most popular news TV programs in Argentina. After completing his master’s degree at Columbia University in New York, he worked as a foreign correspondent based in Washington DC, and then moved to Detroit to join the automotive industry.
As Head of Communications for global brands such as Jeep and Alfa Romeo, he worked with the brand's CEOs, regional teams, and functional units delivering compelling narratives, product reveals, vehicle launches, and key global announcements, which saw Jeep becoming the world’s No.1 SUV brand in global media visibility and winning the 2023 PR News Platinum Award for the Jeep ‘4xe Day’ Media Event. Also, his Alfa Romeo's 110th Anniversary Communications Campaign received the Award of Excellence by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Passionately generating content and initiatives that transcend cultures, Ari launched and led for eight years the Chrysler Group’s program to reach Hispanic media in the Americas, including the development of an exclusive media platform, with content in Spanish, including videos, blogs, and Twitter, resulting in tangible media coverage and increase visibility among Hispanos.
Ari currently teaches Global Reputation Management at the University of Michigan and lives with his beloved wife, kids, and a temperamental cat.
