Hello, I'm Eli Murphy.
I'm a father, a coach, a creative, an artist, a writer, a director, and a lover of stories (books, movies, television, and more).
I'm also a Global Creative Director that builds and leads high-performing in-house teams and develops brand transformations at scale across Retail, CPG, Tech, and Entertainment.
I’ve spent 30 years at the intersection of strategy and storytelling. My career is split into two defining acts: 20 years in the agency world honing my craft for the world's most iconic brands (P&G, Samsung, Disney), and the last decade client-side at Walmart and Sam's Club, where I’ve led creative transformations at a global scale.
I have a proven track record of building and scaling high-performing in-house creative teams for Fortune 1 organizations. Expertise in spearheading $100B+ brand refreshes (Walmart International, Walmart, and Sam’s Club) and driving multi-billion dollar growth through strategic brand management and storytelling. A collaborative leader dedicated to fostering inclusive environments, mentoring top-tier talent, and translating complex business problems into award-winning creative solutions across Retail, CPG, Tech and Entertainment.
I specialize in building “Agency-of-the-Future” models within large corporations. Whether it was establishing the first-ever brand identity for Walmart International—a $115B business—or leading the brand refresh for Sam’s Club, my focus remains the same: cultivating world-classin-house talent and connecting big ideas to business results.
What I bring to the table:
SCALE & IMPACT: Led creative for global markets, influenced $3B in private brand sales within 18 months, and delivered strategic and tailored creative solutions for the C-Suite and beyond.
TEAM ARCHITECTURE: I don’t just manage teams; I build them. I’ve successfully recruited and mentored multidisciplinary groups (CDs, Writers, Designers, Animators, Production Artists, Strategy, Video) to function as agile, high-output internal agencies.
STORYTELLING WITH PURPOSE: From short-form documentaries like “Sparks of Hope” to executive communications for the C-Suite, I believe every touchpoint is an opportunity to delight and inspire.
Beyond the boardroom, you’ll find me writing stories, illustrating characters, or coaching youth sports. I’m a screenwriter, artist, and mentor at heart, a background that allows me to approach every business challenge with a creator's lens and a leader’s discipline.
KEY EXPERTISE:
• Creative Team Building
• Brand Strategy & Identity
• Global Communications
• Cross-functional Leadership
• Retail & CPG Innovation
• Executive Presence