Colossal Bioscience names former Dentsu International Brand Strategy Lead Emily Castel as Chief Marketing Officer

Emily Castel has joined Colossal Bioscience, the world’s first de-extinction company as Chief Marketing Officer, following a three year stint as President and Chief Brand Officer of omnichannel entertainment company Teton Ridge. Castel will bring her global entertainment and consumer brand experience with international names such as LEGO to Colossal, where she will lead global efforts to scale the company’s brand, experiences, consumer products and emerging media properties.

Based out of the UK, Castel will be responsible for leading across all consumer expressions of the Colossal brand globally, heading up the entertainment and film, social, experiential, PR and marketing disciplines.

Following five years at Dentsu International heading up global brand strategy, Castel founded her own creative consultancy FIVE33 in 2007, where she acquired clients such as Disney, Pixar, Universal and Paramount. As founder, Castel orchestrated the global marketing strategies of numerous entertainment properties including the one-billion-dollar Tim Burton’s Alice & Wonderland, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and the most successful Star Trek movie release: JJ Abrams’ 2013 Star Trek.

In 2013, Castel joined Legendary Entertainment as Chief Marketing Officer, after Legendary acquired FIVE33. While on the executive team, Castel oversaw all movie, TV and entertainment launches including global marketing, licensing and consumer products as well as event activations. Castel successfully worked with distribution partners Warner Bros and Universal on Legendary-produced IP’s including Pacific Rim, Godzilla, Jurassic World, Warcraft and Kong: Skull Island. She also led the development of the MonsterVerse franchise mythology, which has gone on to gross $2 billion worldwide.

After leaving Legendary in 2017, Castel launched her UK-based consultancy Castel Creative, where she served as founder and CEO.  During that time, she focused on adding strategic value to brands and IPs, including the Kingsman franchise and Rocketman for Marv Studios, while maintaining an advisory role at Legendary Entertainment.

At Colossal, Castel will lead a growing team of brand and consumer hires including newly appointed EVP of Design, Chris Klee, an award-winning design team leader who was formerly Chief Creative Officer of Hypergiant Industries.

“It is important for Colossal to bring the importance of our scientific achievements and focus on de-extinction and conservation education to consumers in all mediums,” shared Ben Lamm, Colossal CEO and Co-Founder. “Emily is the global brand leader who is best suited to bring Colossal there given her extensive entertainment background, knowledge of global consumer marketing, and proven track record in franchise marketing.”

“I look forward to building the Colossal brand into the market leader in the space and continuing the inspiring work that the team has been undertaking,” said Castel.  “I’m excited to start the next chapter of my career with the world’s first de-extinction company. It is an opportunity to drive innovation in the sector, using entertainment to inspire global communities to engage in Colossal’s pioneering mission to preserve species and further their existence on earth.” 

Since launching in September 2021, Colossal has raised $225M in total funding led by led by United States Innovative Technology Fund (“USIT”), with participation from At One Ventures, West River Group, Paul Tudor Jones, Breyer Capital, Animal Capital, Bob Nelson, Tim Draper, Victor Vescovo, In-Q-Tel, Builders VC, Peak6, among others.

Colossal was founded by emerging technology and software entrepreneur Ben Lamm and world-renowned geneticist and serial biotech entrepreneur George Church, Ph.D.  Colossal creates disruptive technologies for extinct species restoration, critically endangered species protection and the repopulation of critical ecosystems that support the continuation of life on Earth.  Colossal is accepting humanity’s duty to restore Earth to a healthier state, while also solving for the future economies and biological necessities of the human condition through cutting-edge science and technologies.