Gail
Donohue

Marketing Leader. Advisor. Builder.

Twenty-eight years leading Fortune 500 marketing. I work with founders, CEOs, and PE-backed teams who need senior marketing judgment without adding a full-time hire.

About

I've led marketing for Fortune 500 companies for 28 years. That work spans deregulation, competitive market expansion, and a successful $8.4 billion acquisition.

I founded DeBellis + Ferrara to do what most agencies don't: help companies run marketing as a real business function. My clients sell intangible products. Services, software, regulated offerings. The kind of work where buyers have to trust the seller before they'll trust the product.

Today I work in three ways. As a Fractional CMO when senior leadership matters but a full-time hire doesn't fit. As an Interim VP during executive search. As a Strategic Advisor when leadership wants a second opinion on the calls that matter most.

What I Do

Three ways I work with leadership teams, based on how much continuity you need and how quickly you need it.

01

Fractional CMO

Senior marketing leadership at the level your business actually needs. Brand strategy, campaign oversight, team building, vendor management, and budget control. Without the cost of a full-time hire.

02

Interim VP

Leadership coverage during your executive search. No ramp time. No learning curve. 90-day minimum, with extensions if your search runs longer.

03

Strategic Advisor

Outside counsel on marketing strategy, org design, and operations. For founders and PE-backed leadership who want senior input on the big calls without adding a permanent seat.

Track Record

Fortune 500 leadership. Deep experience in regulated and deregulated markets. Marketing run as a business function, not a cost center.

28 Yrs
Enterprise Marketing Leadership
$8.4B
Acquisition Supported
1,700%
Customer Growth
35–50%
Typical Cost Reduction

Industries

I specialize in companies selling intangible products. Services, software, regulated offerings. The categories where buyers have to trust the seller before they'll trust the product.

Energy & Utilities
Financial Services
SaaS & Technology
Professional Services
Healthcare & Insurance
Government Contractors
B2B Services
Regulated Industries

Testimonials

"Gail's intellect, creativity, energy level, ability to consistently accomplish set tasks and deliver outstanding results are boundless and untouchable."

Jeffrey Trees
Trees & Company

"Gail is a detail-oriented business woman with an innate ability to listen to a client's needs, tap into their business and deliver a creative solution that is on pointe."

Tricia Smith
Tree & Fish Creative

"Gail's best asset as an advertising professional is her ability to see opportunities on both the client and creative side. She achieves the balance necessary to develop creative solutions that tailor fit the needs of her clients, on time and within budget."

Todd Potochnik
Creative Director

Let's Talk

Available for Fractional CMO engagements, interim leadership, and strategic advisory. If you're weighing a hire, a transition, or a hard call about how marketing should be run, send a note or book a call.

gail@gaildonohue.com