MIKE JACKSON

Outgoing. Engaging. Approachable.

Mike now resides in North Scottsdale, AZ. He is an avid reader, enjoys traveling, and playing golf.

“My best times are shared by my children, and my fiancée Tracy.”

Mike joined the Kent State University School of Media and Journalism as a ‘professional-in-residence’ in January of 2022. Jackson is teaching Advertising Strategy Development and Advertising Messaging and Communication. He also serves as faculty adviser for Franklin Advertising, a student organization focused on advertising and strategic communication.

“As an alum, Mike has served as a mentor to our students and he has had such a positive impact,” Dean of the College of Communication and Information Amy Reynolds, Ph.D., said. "We are so fortunate that he will now share his impressive experiences and his deep expertise with our students in the classroom. He is someone who is immersed in the future trends of the profession, and he is committed to student success."

Mike is also the founder of 2050 Marketing in the Silicon Beach area of Los Angeles. 2050 advises clients ranging from Fortune 500 brands to start-ups, on the execution of brand building, digital and social media strategies. Current and former clients include Publicis Groupe, USAA, CoFounders Lab, Vision Media, Talespin, Broidy Capital Management, and Gamma Enterprises.

Mike was an exclusive on-air contributor for CNBC, a unit of NBC Universal from 2014 through 2020. He continues to provide expertise as a marketing analyst, guest commentator and contributor for NBC, CNBC, ABC, NPR, CCTV, USA Today, and various podcasts on industries and topics ranging from tech companies: Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple, to consumer product companies: Pepsi, P&G, and Nike, to sports: NBA, NFL, and MLB and automotive brands: Tesla, Ford and GM.

Current Work

Mike is also on the board of directors for G FUEL.

As The Official Energy Drink of Esports®, G FUEL provides gamers with a healthier, more performance-driven alternative to standard energy and hydration drink products. With an ever-expanding, sugar-free product lineup that includes a powdered energy formula, ready-to-drink cans, powdered hydration formula, edible energy crystals, and sparkling hydration, G FUEL has firmly established itself as the market leader in the gamer energy drink industry.

With over 280,000 5-star Shopper Approved Ratings, a shipping network that spans over 125 countries, a newly-forged nationwide retail campaign, and a global social media footprint of over 1 billion followers, G FUEL maintains the industry's largest and most passionate community of fans, customers, content creators, and partners.

Content creators and partners who include the likes of FaZe Clan, NoisyButters, NICKMERCS, Luminosity Gaming, PewDiePie, Summit1G, xQc, KSI, Logic, Roman Atwood, Ghost Gaming, Activision, SEGA of America, Capcom®, Bethesda Game Studios, Warner Bros., Disney, Lucasfilm, The Tetris Company, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., RESPAWN Products, SteelSeries, and Digital Storm.

Join the movement today at GFUEL.com and follow us on social media @GFuelEnergy.

Prior Work

Previously, Mike Jackson founded Jackson & Partners in mid-town Detroit in 2010. J&P was a full service marketing consulting practice. The J&P mission was to deliver highly specialized marketing capabilities, focused on developing solutions to the most difficult strategic challenges that were beyond the means of traditional advertising agencies. Clients included, automotive, retail, beverages, and entertainment brands.

Prior to starting his own firm, Jackson was Senior Vice-president of Global Sales, Marketing, and Distribution for CODA Automotive, Santa Monica, CA. Coda was a start-up auto manufacturer focusing on reducing dependence on oil and leading the way to a cleaner future by building 100% electric cars and transportation battery systems. Mike was hired by the initial board of investors to define the brand positioning and to develop the sales, marketing, and distribution strategies for the company.

Jackson also served as General Motors Corporation, North America Vice President of Marketing and Advertising. His responsibilities included directing the marketing, advertising and media efforts for the eight GM vehicle divisions.

Prior to joining GM, Mike held key sales, marketing, and operational leadership assignments spanning more than 20 years, with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Coors Brewing Company (where he served as Vice President of Market Development from 1996 to 2000).

A Few Notable Mentions…

Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Mike graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Journalism, and received a Masters degree from The Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California. He was also awarded an Advanced Management Program certificate from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania.

Mike has served on the board of directors for LEAD (Leadership, Education, and Development), Philadelphia, PA, The Los Angeles Urban League, Los Angeles, CA  and The Arthur Ashe Foundation, New York, NY.