Neal Santelmann

Editorial Director
neal.santelmann@finnpartners.com

Professional Experience

As Editorial Director on the North American Travel Team at FINN Partners, I shape client communications with a distinctive voice, particularly for executive profiles and thought leadership pieces. I specialize in transforming even the most technical or detailed content into engaging narratives that keep readers hooked. While my editorial approach is grounded in journalistic precision, my tone leans toward conversational, ensuring that every piece resonates with its audience.

Strike while the iron is.

- random fortune cookie

How'd you get here?

I began my career as a reporter, eventually becoming a senior editor at Forbes Life where I focused on luxury lifestyle topics, including travel, and was encouraged to write creatively. Moving on following the dot-com crash of 2001, I took a plum opportunity to join Jennifer Hawkins just as she was launching her new travel PR agency. Jennifer liked my writing style, marketing me to clients with the tagline, “He writes like a journalist because he is one,” and I’ve been with the agency ever since.