2 Minutes With … Tom Gargiulo, CMO of BodyArmor

A 20-year industry veteran, Tom Gargiulo is currently CMO of BodyArmor Sports Nutrition. Earlier, Tom served at Nick’s, a food-tech startup, where he drove growth via new systems and technology, establishing a co-manufacturing and supply-chain network.

Tom also led marketing and commercial strategy at Kind, launching the brand into new categories. While there, he led partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Starbucks. Before that, he oversaw several brands at Danone as CMO, activating the launch of Two Good and Oikos Triple Zero, and guiding the rebounds of Activia and Danimals. 

We spent two minutes with Tom to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.

Tom, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.  

I’m a Northern Jersey Boy through and through. I grew up in Upper Montclair, N.J., and currently live in Ridgewood, N.J.

Your earliest sports memory.  

I remember going to a Super Bowl XXI party at a friend’s house. The New York Giants were playing the Denver Broncos. I remember how focused I was on the game. Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, the back and forth and the eventual win for the Giants. It was so exhilarating!

Your favorite sports team(s). 

I’m a diehard New York Giants and New York Yankees fan. I also love the Rangers and Knicks.

Your favorite athlete(s).  

My favorite athlete growing up was Don Mattingly. The batting stance, the mustache, the glove work. I spent every day trying to mimic his every move. Now? It’s probably Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones.

Your favorite sports show or podcast.

I’m a loyal WFAN listener, but also follow all of the Giants podcasts and YouTubers.  My favorite is Talkin’ Giants by Jomboy Media.

Your favorite sports movie and/or video game.  

So many to choose from, but I love the movie Draft Day. The NFL Draft is my favorite sporting event of the year and that movie brings it to life. I watch it every year before the draft to get pumped up!

Someone else’s project that you admired recently.  

I always love what the movie studios do to drive hype and excitement around new releases, but nothing compares to Barbie. The nostalgia it tapped into, the collaborations, the digital execution, the out-of-home, the pink everywhere. Everything was so breakthrough!

What sports can do that nothing else can.

Sports lets me disconnect from all of the serious stuff in life. It helps bring people together regardless of their differences, and for two to three hours, you feel like you have millions of best friends screaming their heads off with you.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in the sports world.  

Food and beverage marketing has always been a passion of mine. The fact that I get to combine that love with my passion for sports is just unfair. I’m in heaven!