Global Partnerships Leader · Toronto

Canadian Made.
Globally
Refined.

Ten years. Four global brands. Fifteen markets worked on. I've led partnership and sponsorship strategy at every scale — from a gaming start-up's first commercial deal to multi-million dollar partnerships for some of the most recognized CPG and tech brands in the world.

My career hasn't been linear. The lows of layoffs, the highs of an international relocation, and pivots between industries. Every chapter added new learnings and range — across B2C and B2B, across sport, tech, entertainment and culture, across boardrooms and international borders.

Below is the work. The deals built, the campaigns launched, and the people developed along the way.

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10+
Years Experience
4
Global Brands
15+
Markets Worked
D
Daniel Listi
Open to new opportunities
Sport · Entertainment · Culture
About

The person
behind the work.

I'm a senior marketing leader who's spent a decade turning partnerships into commercial engines — deals that move product, build brand, and show up in culture in ways that actually matter.

In Canada, I've been in the room for some of the country's biggest brand moments: the PS5 launch, Toronto International Film Festival, and full seasons alongside MLSE and the Blue Jays.

Globally, I've led partner strategy for McDonald's and KFC across Just Eat Takeaway's network, built media partnerships spanning 30+ markets at Kraft Heinz, and co-launched a gaming ghost kitchen with FaZe Clan across the US.

I lead with curiosity, build with intention, and measure everything that matters.

Core expertise
Partnership Strategy Sponsorship Activations Brand Storytelling Integrated Campaigns Insights Led Strategy Commercial Impact Contract Negotiations B2B Growth Retail Media Go-To-Market
01 —
Lead With Innovation
The best marketing leaders don't wait for permission to try something new. I've built campaigns on platforms before they peaked, championed AI tools before they were mainstream, and pushed for approaches that made rooms uncomfortable — then delivered results that made them believers.
02 —
Insights First. Always.
We have more data at our fingertips than at any point in history. I've never been interested in gut-feel marketing. Every partnership I've built, every campaign I've launched, starts with a question: what does the consumer actually want? The insights lead. Everything else follows.
03 —
Make Room at the Table
The proudest moment of my career wasn't a campaign launch. It was the first time I promoted someone. I inherited them as a flight risk, coached them for 12 months, and watched them earn the promotion they'd been working toward. I measure my leadership as much by the people I've developed as the deals I've closed.
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Career

Where I've done the work.

Partnerships that drive commercial results — each one a different scale, a different challenge, a different consumer and a different playbook for winning partnerships.

Led global media partnership strategy across 30+ markets, reporting into the Senior Director of Global Media Excellence. Owned executive-level JBP negotiations with Google, TikTok, Pinterest, Spotify, and Uber — translating platform relationships into commercial frameworks adopted globally. Directed a $15M+ sport and entertainment sponsorship portfolio spanning properties including Inter Milan, NFL Germany, and Tomorrowland.

Case studies & work samples
Partnership
Global Google JBP
Built a first-of-its-kind global JBP with Google to drive strategic value across 30+ markets and bring new capabilities to underserved markets.
Campaign
Heinz — Looks Familiar
Built a unique retail partnership with Uber Eats across 4 markets, attaching Heinz Ketchup bottle purchases to consumers buying meals with french fries.
Read more →

Relocated to Amsterdam on a 12-month assignment to lead B2B and B2B2C commercial growth strategy for McDonald's and YUM Brands across 14 markets. Operated as an internal marketing consultant — diagnosing market-level performance gaps, building marketing solutions, scaling proven strategies globally and selling through new tech/retail media opportunities. Developed the UEFA Partner Playbook to translate sponsorship assets into a commercial framework driving co-branded activation and partner revenue across markets.

Case studies & work samples
Partnership
Growth in Spain
Recognized a performance gap in AOV with KFC in Spain. Worked cross-functionally with insights to find a solution, sold through a business case to Product & Eng, and increased AOV by 4.5% within 6 weeks.
Framework Building
McDonald's 2025 Strategy
Worked internally to gather insights and develop new solutions to improve McDonald's overall performance across all markets in 2025. The new direction secured and increased investment.
New Tech
KFC Retail Media
Sold through a first-of-its-kind retail media strategy to KFC Europe. Focused on a priority market in Germany, delivering new partner investment and impactful results.

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Case studies & work samples
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Founded MVRK Sport & Entertainment to bring senior-level marketing strategy and hands-on execution directly to brands operating at the intersection of sport, entertainment, and culture. No layers, no handoffs — just direct access to a decade of experience at scale.

MVRK projects
Consulting Site
MVRK Sport & Entertainment
Capabilities, projects, and contact for the MVRK consultancy.
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Beyond the Office

The person,
not just the résumé.

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Life outside the office
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Let's Connect

Open to the right opportunity.

listi.dan@gmail.com
LinkedIn MVRK Studio