James Santilli. Photo by JMilteer Photography.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has appointed James Santilli as Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue & Experience Officer (CREO). Santilli, formerly chief marketing officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, joined the orchestra on April 14. Overseeing Marketing & Communications, Guest Experiences, Heinz Hall Presents, and Corporate Support teams, James will lead customer service, user experience, events, and brand experience, as well as audience engagement and retention strategies. As chief marketing officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Santilli managed the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sale of the team to the Fenway Sports Group, and the exit of AT&T Sports Network from the regional sports network business. He reoriented the organization from a brand-centric approach to a revenue-centric culture, identifying key growth areas and revenue streams. Prior to being CMO for the Penguins, he was the team’s vice president and senior vice president of marketing, and led all fan-development departments, including Community Relations, Advertising, Digital, Game Entertainment, Youth Hockey, Video Production, and Creative Services, and doubled their regional fan base from 565,000 to 1,300,000. Santilli hold a BSBA and MBA from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.
