GSTV Taps Starcom and iHeartMedia Vet Kristina Lutz as Its New EVP, Marketing

GSTV, the national video network engaging and entertaining targeted audiences at scale across tens of thousands of fuel retailers, announces today the appointment of Kristina Lutz as executive vice president, marketing. In her new role, she will lead integrated marketing, ad sales solutions, public relations, and brand activations, among other areas. Based in Chicago, Lutz will report to GSTV president and CEO Sean McCaffrey.

Lutz has over two decades of marketing experience, joining GSTV from CarSaver where she was VP, Strategic Partnership Marketing. While with the auto ecommerce platform, she helped develop and execute strategic partnerships to expand offerings, build brand awareness, and drive sales as a key member of the leadership team. Previously, Lutz held various leadership roles at Starcom and iHeartMedia.. 

“When searching for our next marketing head, we wanted to find someone with deep, diverse knowledge who could help us continue sharing what GSTV’s video platform offers advertisers and consumers. With her varied experience across agency, brand, and publisher perspectives, Kristina emerged as the perfect candidate,” said McCaffrey. “As we head into another NewFronts season, I’m excited to partner with her to continue spreading awareness of GSTV’s full offering, especially knowing her track record when it comes to brand building and client solutions.”

Prior to the brand side, Kristina served as president for Starcom USA, with a staff of 600+ across Chicago, New York, Detroit and Los Angeles. She led the agency’s investment, content, and multi-cultural practices, focusing on innovative, client-specific activation across all channels and all clients. She was a key member of the Publicis Media Exchange (PMX), the largest U.S. media buying entity, fueling cross-channel marketplace innovation and transformation. She had rejoined Starcom USA from iHeartMedia, where as EVP she led business development and client partnerships through creative media and product solutions across Fortune 100 partners and agency holding companies. She pioneered the company’s vertical strategy, focused on auto, and built the central region team from zero to 100+ clients. 

“I’m thrilled to join GSTV, especially at this particular moment in time,” said Lutz. “As the company continues to cement itself as a major video player, I will partner with Sean and the team to develop a communications and marketing strategy that clarifies our offering, breaking through to new audiences by emphasising results.”

This announcement comes in tandem with two other key new hires at GSTV. Jennifer Cesa, joins as regional vice president, client partnerships. Cesa joins GSTV from Shutterstock, and prior to that had sales leadership positions at Tastemade and across the Scripps/Discovery lifestyle portfolio of networks. Geoff Maresca steps into the position of vice president, agency development, after holding sales leadership roles at leading media and martech companies including Ryff, Amobee, FreeWheel, Quantcast, AOL and Microsoft. Cesa will oversee GSTV’s client partnerships on the East Coast, while Maresca focuses on further honing agency holding company relationships.  Both hires are key elements of GSTV’s continued focus on best-in-class national advertising solutions for agency and brand partners. Based in New York, both will report to chief revenue officer, Scott Pawloski.