Andy McGowan
Andy McGowan is a senior-level strategic public relations and marketing executive with more than 30 years of experience across several high-profile brands and industries.
Before founding Watkins McGowan, he spent his career in leadership roles at companies including UPS, Qualcomm, Red Bull, the National Hockey League, and the Washington Capitals.
Most recently, he served as the Director of Global Media Relations and Brand Reputation for UPS, a Fortune 50 company. In his role, he led a team that was responsible for external media relations, financial communications, quarterly earnings, brand reputation, mergers and acquisition, safety, labor, technology, corporate sustainability, healthcare. He also oversaw the company’s issues management strategies and crisis communications - including a CEO transition, a plane crash and active shooter incident.
Before joining UPS, he led marketing communications for Qualcomm’s Firethorn business unit, which developed mobile payment technologies and applications. While there, he was part of a team that launched a new brand, SWAGG, while also showcasing the company’s thought leadership in mobile payments.
Over the course of his career, he has handled everything from traditional and social media relations, content development, digital strategy, crisis communications, issues management and executive communications.
In the sports field, he served as the Vice President, Communications and Community Relations for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer. There he oversaw all aspects of communications – including the team’s internal and external communications, television and radio broadcasting, web content, social media. As a member of the senior leadership team, he was also involved in the construction and launch of Red Bull Arena, one of the top soccer-specific stadiums in North America.
Prior to Red Bull, he was the Vice President of Communications and Community Relations for the NHL’s Washington Capitals. He also served as the NHL’s Director of Public Relations and was involved in the NHL’s involvement in the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, the World Cup of Hockey, and the League’s annual Stanley Cup Finals, All Star Game, NHL Television Awards Show, and Entry Draft.
Over the course of his career, he has been on faculty for a number of universities, including Georgia State University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, George Washington University, the University of Hartford, and Iona College.
He has a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany, a M.Ed. from Springfield College with a concentration in sports management, and an MBA from the University of Hartford.
Before founding Watkins McGowan, he spent his career in leadership roles at companies including UPS, Qualcomm, Red Bull, the National Hockey League, and the Washington Capitals.
Most recently, he served as the Director of Global Media Relations and Brand Reputation for UPS, a Fortune 50 company. In his role, he led a team that was responsible for external media relations, financial communications, quarterly earnings, brand reputation, mergers and acquisition, safety, labor, technology, corporate sustainability, healthcare. He also oversaw the company’s issues management strategies and crisis communications - including a CEO transition, a plane crash and active shooter incident.
Before joining UPS, he led marketing communications for Qualcomm’s Firethorn business unit, which developed mobile payment technologies and applications. While there, he was part of a team that launched a new brand, SWAGG, while also showcasing the company’s thought leadership in mobile payments.
Over the course of his career, he has handled everything from traditional and social media relations, content development, digital strategy, crisis communications, issues management and executive communications.
In the sports field, he served as the Vice President, Communications and Community Relations for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer. There he oversaw all aspects of communications – including the team’s internal and external communications, television and radio broadcasting, web content, social media. As a member of the senior leadership team, he was also involved in the construction and launch of Red Bull Arena, one of the top soccer-specific stadiums in North America.
Prior to Red Bull, he was the Vice President of Communications and Community Relations for the NHL’s Washington Capitals. He also served as the NHL’s Director of Public Relations and was involved in the NHL’s involvement in the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, the World Cup of Hockey, and the League’s annual Stanley Cup Finals, All Star Game, NHL Television Awards Show, and Entry Draft.
Over the course of his career, he has been on faculty for a number of universities, including Georgia State University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, George Washington University, the University of Hartford, and Iona College.
He has a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany, a M.Ed. from Springfield College with a concentration in sports management, and an MBA from the University of Hartford.