Company
After spending most of our careers leading marketing and communications for some of the biggest names in finance and fintech, we saw a gap in the agency landscape. Too often, the agencies we worked with lacked the industry fluency and strategic depth required to move the needle. In 2016, we founded Forefront Communications to fill that need.
Today, Forefront is an award-winning marketing and communications partner for fintech and capital markets firms. We’re a team of former CMOs, journalists and heads of communications who think like industry insiders, bringing an unmatched understanding of the space and the business models that drive institutional finance.
Part PR, part content, part digital marketing and part design, Forefront scales to meet clients where they are – from startups building their brands from scratch to global firms navigating high-stakes product launches, rebrands and crises. Our approach combines rock-solid foundational messaging and exceptional design with expert strategy and program execution to deliver precise, impactful and measurable results.
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
Vice President
Senior Vice President
Senior Vice President
Vice President
Ragan
Financial Promoter
Financial Promoter
Gramercy Institute
Fintech Marketing North America Awards
PRNEWS
PR Week
Bulldog PR Awards
Bulldog PR Awards
Bulldog PR Awards
Bulldog PR Awards
Bulldog PR Awards
Senior Account Executive
Account Executive
Associate
Forefront’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program reflects our commitment to making an impact beyond the workplace. Grounded in our team members’ individual passions, the program brings us together to support causes that matter – from environmental conservation to community outreach and fundraising initiatives.
Managing Partner
Over his 20+ year career, Mark has worked with a wide swath of institutional fintech brands on projects spanning the marketing and communications spectrum. Prior to founding Forefront, Mark built REDI’s marketing platform following its spinout from Goldman Sachs. Before that, he spent nearly a decade as global head of marketing and communications for Nomura’s Instinet subsidiary, helping reposition its brand from ECN to technology-enabled agency broker. Along the way he also helped launch the firm’s Chi-X exchange businesses globally.
In his free time Mark enjoys hiking throughout the Catskills with his wife and two kids, playing (mostly poorly) Ultimate Frisbee and noodling (entirely poorly) on the guitar.
Managing Partner
Eric brings 25 years of financial services and fintech marketing and communications experience to Forefront Communications. Prior to co-founding Forefront, Eric served as CMO of several industry-leading firms, running the global marketing, PR and communications activities at Macgregor, ClariFI, NYFIX, Trepp, BondDesk Group and Convergex. Eric helped these businesses succeed in highly competitive markets by implementing cost-effective and creative programs that drove revenues, built client loyalty and strengthened brands.
In his free time, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife and two children in addition to playing any competitive game or sport, but mostly tennis, platform tennis and golf.
Vice President
Sam leads Forefront’s content practice area. In this role, he serves as Forefront’s lead writer and editor, helping clients tell their stories through compelling thought leadership, case studies, whitepapers, sales materials, social media, websites, videos, podcasts and beyond. He has worked with firms spanning virtually every corner of the capital markets and institutional fintech space. In addition to client work, Sam serves as the editorial director of the At the Forefront podcast.
Before joining Forefront, Sam was a journalist whose work appeared on Business Insider, Golf.com and a number of other outlets. He has a B.A. from Fordham University, where he double majored in Journalism and History. In his free time, Sam enjoys writing, live music, exploring NYC and tinkering with his fantasy football lineup.
Senior Vice President
Erin is a marketing and communications leader with experience across private and non-profit companies at different stages of maturity in both B2B and B2C. Prior to joining as SVP, Account Management at Forefront Communications, Erin served as the Global Head of Marketing at Visible Alpha, an investment research technology firm that was acquired by S&P Global in 2024. Erin holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her free time, Erin enjoys experimenting with recipes from the New York Times Cooking app and getting her heart rate up at Orangetheory Fitness.
Senior Vice President
Jon is a communications and PR leader experienced in media strategy, crisis response and brand development. Prior to joining Forefront, Jon held several leadership roles at communications strategy firms and led a startup’s media relations initiative. He also spent a dozen years as a journalist, appearing on and writing for CNBC, Reuters and other finance publications. Jon holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maryland at College Park. In his free time, Jon cooks, hikes, golfs and travels.
Vice President
Amanda leads Forefront’s digital marketing practice with a strong focus on HubSpot, organic/paid social and Forefront’s brand projects. She plays an active role in expanding the Forefront brand, which includes the firm’s marketing efforts, digital presence and overall team growth.
Prior to Forefront, Amanda worked at Aspectus Group, where she executed media relations campaigns, managed clients’ social media platforms and developed thought leadership content. Amanda is a proud alumna of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She also holds a Master of Corporate and Marketing Communications degree from IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.
Outside of the office, Amanda can be found doing absolutely everything with her rescue dog, Luna (also known as Tuna). She loves Spain, Alabama football and anything with sugar in it.
Head of Creative
Thomas brings nearly two decades of professional experience in the areas of creative direction, visual design and consumer communication, working with Fortune 500 brands including Amazon, Procter & Gamble, 3M, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Verizon, Target, T-Mobile, TDBank, Mercedes-Benz and Ducati. In the fintech world, Thomas has led the visual components of rebranding efforts for Forefront client’s Broadway Technology, Broadridge, Castle Island Ventures, Dash Financial, EDX Markets, HiddenRoad, LiquidityBook, MayStreet, Talos, Tower Research, Trillium and Versana, among others.
Senior Account Executive
Ryan is a Senior Account Executive at Forefront, where he helps clients build visibility through media relations, press strategy and interview preparation. With experience across technology and financial services, he connects clients’ subject matter expertise to relevant industry conversations and has helped secure coverage in top-tier publications and key trade outlets. His work includes developing messaging, supporting company announcements and positioning executives as knowledgeable sources for the media. Outside of Forefront, you can find him watching sports, at the movies or playing pickup basketball.
Why do I love NYC?
There’s always a new restaurant to try!
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Before starting in PR, I used to write articles about the New York Jets for FanSided’s “The Jet Press.”
Bagel or Croissant
Bagel! That’s also part of the “why do I love NYC” question.
Account Executive
With over 10 years of experience in public relations and digital marketing, Jess Gawrych has developed and executed strategic communications programs across a range of industries, including healthcare, higher education, financial services, and fintech. Drawing on her diverse background, she specializes in translating complex concepts into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with target audiences and support broader business objectives. Jess holds a master’s degree in Media and Strategic Communication from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston University.
Favorite hobbies?
Boxing, biking and yoga. And when it’s time to rest — lots of reading.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I speak three languages.
Go-to coffee or lunch order?
A good cappuccino is unmatched (and hard to come by.)
Associate
Valentina brings both journalism and marketing experience to the Associate position, where she supports the digital and content teams. She holds a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Journalism and Media Studies from Duke University. Before joining Forefront full-time, she interned with the agency and gained experience in reporting and editorial writing as a journalist for The 9th Street Journal and an opinion columnist for The Chronicle. Having grown up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she is fluent in Spanish.
Outside of the office, Valentina enjoys putting her own spin on classic recipes, writing blog entries and reading contemporary fiction under the trees in Central Park.
First Job
Bookstore counter girl
Death Row Last Meal
Mom’s spaghetti and meatballs, always
What’s on Your Playlist Right Now?
Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Gerry Rafferty. If it was made in the ’60s or ’70s, it’s probably playing in my headphones
Plan It or Wing It?
Plan it! With plans B through Z ready to go
Subway or Walk?
Bus, for the views, of course
Sweet or Savory?
Sweet tooth, through and through
