MIKE THOMAS
Creative Director, Brand Strategist, Marketer – based in Los Angeles, California
With over twenty-five years of experience leading creative operations for industry giants, Mike Thomas is known for his expertise in creative direction and brand innovation. Currently the VP of Creative Development at Meaningful Beauty, LLC, Mike’s career spans across entertainment, beauty, and consumer goods, where he has consistently delivered compelling creative solutions that meet and exceed organizational goals.
Mike’s journey began at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. His career kicked off in the entertainment industry as a Theatrical Public & Talent Relations Coordinator at Dennis Davidson and Associates, managing talent and publicity for international film campaigns. Building on this foundation in entertainment, Mike later transitioned to digital photography at Disney, where he took on directing the studio’s digital photography needs including all set and location photo shoots and on-air promotional campaigns for the company’s television series.
In 2000, Mike joined Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment as an in-house graphic designer where he designed key art and collateral for all of Fox’s new releases and their extensive catalog of feature films. In 2006, he was promoted to Creative Director, Acquisitions and in 2008, Executive Creative Director, International New Release. In this capacity, he spearheaded the development of creative materials, managed branding initiatives, directed dynamic key art and packaging and played a pivotal role in securing major licensing agreements. His leadership extended to campaign management, event coordination, and guiding large creative teams.
Mike entered the beauty and direct-to-consumer space in 2012 when he joined Guthy-Renker. There, he managed daily creative operations for over 20 brands, including Proactiv, WEN Haircare, and Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty. Leading a team of more than 25 creative professionals, Mike drove high-profile initiatives and contributed to significant departmental growth.
In 2015, Mike relocated to Salt Lake City to lead creative operations at Cricut. Overseeing a multidisciplinary team, he guided the development of digital, print, and handmade creative elements, while managing cross-functional projects spanning retail, product marketing, and content creation.
In 2017, eager to return to the beauty industry, Mike joined the marketing team at Basic Research. He played a key role in evolving the company’s strategy from traditional infomercial tactics to modern brand-building, customer engagement, and digital media approaches. His creative direction touched everything from branding and packaging to broadcast television.
After returning to Los Angeles in 2019, Mike took on a leadership role at Scale Media, managing a portfolio of over 80 health and beauty products. Just eight days into his new role, the world went into lockdown. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Mike continued to provide freelance services through his LLC, MTCD, until the CEO of Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty invited him back in 2022.
In his current role, Mike has overseen a comprehensive brand refresh, including redesigning the brand identity and packaging, launching a new website, reimagining the Amazon retail experience, and driving multi-channel ad campaigns.
Mike’s career has been defined by a passion for innovative design, consumer-focused experiences, and a deep understanding of evolving markets. His expertise across print, broadcast, and digital mediums makes him a sought-after creative leader in fast-paced, ever-changing industries.
“Michael Thomas is one of the strongest creative directors I know. He thoroughly understands the objective of any project and with effective communication and detail-oriented management guides his team and agencies to outstanding results. He has vision, he is articulate, he is thorough, and he is a true pleasure to work with. He is an asset to any team he chooses to join.”
Shelley Sonnentag – Owner/Creative Director Sonnentag Creative Design and Advertising
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