Eric Thomas joined Invest Detroit in September 2023 as the Senior Vice President, External Relations. Eric is the former Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit (a Mayor Appointee position in the city government focused on content, digital, and brand), a TEDx Speaker, entrepreneur, published writer, narrative strategist, and a Crain’s 20 in their 20’s Awardee.
Throughout his career, he’s worked with dozens of businesses and organizations to develop their brands, connect to their markets, and tell their stories as co-founder of Saga, a storytelling agency. The agency serviced solopreneurs, small businesses, museums, nonprofits, corporations, and municipalities. This diverse array of clients helped Eric develop an understanding of how stories can work to scale, build, and maintain a business.
His writing on topics ranging from media and marketing to diversity and economic development in underserved communities has appeared in the Financial Times, Detroit Free Press, and Hour Magazine. Excerpts from his work and speaking have been cited in the New York Times, AdWeek, and Economist. His focus on integrated storytelling and communication with a concentration on cultural insight and historical context has landed him on stages across the country ranging from TEDxDetroit to MIT.
