How brand journalism is changing, according to TD Bank’s Chad Mitchell

You can trace the evolution of the modern brand journalism playbook through Chad Mitchell’s career.

The VP of corporate & public affairs and head of content & digital platforms for TD Bank, Mitchell has experience on both the brand and agency side, as well as experience with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the PR Daily Leadership Network.

A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Mitchell caught the politics bug early in life, and as a kid thought he wanted to be a writer. “I think I wanted to be a sports writer,” he says, remembering fondly his experiences helping to cover local high school athletics as a stinger for the local paper. But that changed when he got to college.

While covering an event, he got the opportunity to speak with Sen. John Heinz, a well-respected lawmaker from Western Pennsylvania. Confessing his waning interest in journalism, Mitchell asked Heinz for some career advice.

Mitchell remembers Heinz’s advice as “stick with journalism and come intern in my office — and I’ll show you what you can do with a writing degree.”