Raf McDonnell

Raf McDonnell is an Executive in the Music department at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). McDonnell works in the London office, where he helps guide the brand partnership and sponsorship opportunities on behalf of CAA’s music touring clients.

Prior to joining CAA in 2012, McDonnell served as the Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships, Licensing & Synchronization for EMI Music, where he was instrumental in creating the company’s Brand Partnerships group across Europe, brokering deals with such global brands as Coca-Cola, MasterCard, Microsoft, and Max Factor. He was also responsible for developing new revenue streams in advertising, film, video games, and television, on behalf of the label’s artists.

Before joining EMI, McDonnell set up his own agency – RED Entertainment Marketing, helping brands including Coca-Cola work with music and entertainment partners.

Previously, McDonnell spent six years heading up the UK Marketing Activation and Brand Experience Groups for Coca-Cola. In 2004, as Head of Strategic Marketing Alliances & Activation, he founded MyCokemusic.com, one of the UK’s first major legal downloadable music websites.

McDonnell began his career in marketing working on Fosters Lager and then spent seven years at PepsiCo in various sales and marketing roles including Marketing Manager for Snacks and Marketing Manager for Walkers Crisps.

McDonnell graduated from Bristol University with an honors degree in Modern Languages.