About me
Eric Martin is an award-winning brand visionary, cultural strategist, and cultural storyteller whose work lives at the intersection of identity, innovation, and exploration. As the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Black & Abroad, Eric has spent over a decade building one of the most celebrated international Black-owned travel and media platforms, globally recognized for reimagining what it means to explore, connect, and belong.
With more than 11 years of executive leadership at the C-suite level, Eric has consistently driven business transformation through bold creative vision and culturally resonant storytelling. He has led the full-stack evolution of Black & Abroad, overseeing brand identity, narrative voice, and cross-platform campaigns that have earned global acclaim. Under his direction, the company has launched some of the most world-renowned creative work in recent travel and marketing history.
Recognised by the Root 100 Magazine as one of the most influential African Americans, and decorated by the United Nations as one of the Most Influential People of the African Diaspora (MIPAD100), Eric's expertise spans far beyond creative direction. With a proven knack for building international, cross-functional teams across marketing, design, strategy, and technology, he leads diverse creatives and strategists from around the globe. His distributed team model and collaborative leadership style have landed fruitful business partnerships with major brands, including AfroPunk, Delta Air Lines, Meta, American Express, Mastercard, and numerous tourism boards around the world.
Based in the United States, Eric splits his time between Washington, ., and Atlanta, GA, two vibrant cities rooted in Black cultural identity, which he reflects through the courageous energy at the heart of his work. His creative inspiration is constantly fueled by his travels—over 60 countries and counting—where he seeks out global perspectives, untold stories, and everyday moments of Black joy.
When he's not directing teams from the boardroom, you'll likely find Eric behind the lens of his Fujifilm X-T4, capturing still moments of inspiration through his passion for photography. His love for visual storytelling extends beyond the campaign, it's a way of seeing the world, one frame at a time.
Skills
Advertising, Agency Coordination, Art Direction, Brand Stategy, Business Development, Campaign Planning, Communications, Consultancy, Creative Direction, Creative leadership, Curating, Digital Strategy, Multimedia, Product Design, Production, Team Management
Awards
Andys - Gold, Cannes Lions - Bronze, Cannes Lions - Gold, Cannes Lions - Grand Prix, Cannes Lions - Shortlist, Cannes Lions - Silver, Clios - Bronze, Clios - Gold, Clios - Shortlist, Clios - Silver, Communication Arts Competition, Cresta International Advertising Award, D&AD Award - Black Pencil, Effie\'s - Gold, EPICA Award - Silver, LIA Award - Bronze, LIA Award - Gold, LIA Award - Silver, Media Innovation Award, One Club Award - Silver, One Show - Gold Pencil, Webby Award
Eric Martin has been a Contributor since 25th November 2015.