Paolo Mottola is the divisional vice president of brand marketing at REI Co-op, an outdoor retailer and the largest consumer co-operative in the United States. He leads marketing strategy, campaigns, brand advertising, social media, editorial, films, podcasts, and strategic partnerships. He has contributed in creative and marketing leadership roles for REI’s most renowned, Cannes Lions-winning campaigns, #OptOutside and Force of Nature.

He has served as executive producer for feature films including The Dark Divide, Space Oddity, Frybread Face and Me, and dozens of short films from REI Co-op Studios. He executive produced the podcast shows Wild Ideas Worth Living, Camp Monsters, and Hello Nature. He was also the editorial director for Uncommon Path magazine, a joint venture for REI and Hearst Magazines.

He has deep expertise in communications, media and marketing channels supporting brands like Microsoft, Samsung, U.S. Army and Eddie Bauer. He is a recipient of the Sundance Brand Storytelling Honor Roll, CMI Content Marketer of the Year and University of Washington Communication Leadership Award. He serves on the Brand Storytelling Advisory Board and Western Washington University Journalism Board. He studied journalism at Western Washington University and has a Master of Communication in Digital Media from the University of Washington.