KC Crain is the third-generation President and Chief Executive Officer of Crain Communications, expanding the organization’s reach as the source of trusted information for business professionals. During his tenure, the business-to-business media company has expanded to new digital platforms and added six brands to the portfolio. He also refined and focused the company’s audience-first strategy, tripling subscription revenue since 2016.
Crain started his career as a reporter at Automotive News and has held several jobs at Crain Communications over the last 20 years, giving him a deep understanding of the unique challenges of running a modern media company. He invests in the newsrooms, aligns brand strategies, and streamlines operations across the 24 publications, enabling quality content creation, faster product development, and sophisticated marketing tactics to keep pace with the evolving needs of the audience.
Crain is also an active member in the Metro Detroit community, dedicated to improving access to quality education for area youth. As the board chair of the Detroit Children’s Fund, he has helped nearly 100,000 children by helping to raise $50 million for school funding since 2016. He also serves on the boards of the College for Creative Studies and Young Presidents Organization.