This Week’s Exec Shifts: Anheuser-Busch, Bally Appoint CMOs; Unilever CMO To Head Advertising Association

This week, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Bally appoint new marketing heads while Unilever’s CMO agrees to lead the Advertising Association. Also, Group Nine Media names a VP to lead marketing for its digital brands, Virgin Australia names marketing director, LA Phil announces marketing vice president and the Nielsen CEO announces retirement.

Anheuser-Busch InBev Promotes CMO To Dual Role

Anheuser-Busch InBev chief disruptive growth officer Pedro Earp has been promoted to chief marketing officer in addition to retaining his previous title as the brewer consolidates the number of regional management zones around the world. The position goes into effect on January 1. Earp joined the brewery in 2013 and is its former VP of marketing for Latin America North.

Group Nine Media Hires VP To Oversee Brand Marketing

Rachel Baumgarten has joined Group Nine Media as its as executive vice president of marketing. In this role, she will be responsible for the company’s brand and for creating multi-faceted initiates for the company brand portfolio, which includes Thrillist, The Dodo, Seeker and NowThis. Baumgarten will also lead the company’s sales marketing activities. She most recently served as Omnicom Media Group managing director and is a former senior vice president at Viacom Velocity Integrated Marketing.

“As Thrillist, NowThis, Seeker and The Dodo reach super-fan loyalty levels, Group Nine is increasingly becoming the go-to partner for advertisers that want to be part of action-sparking storytelling,” said Christa Carone, President of Group Nine. “Rachel brings her own marketing storytelling to our business, helping us further build on our momentum and creating even stronger connections with industry, client and agency partners.”

IMAX Premieres New Marketing Lead

IMAX revealed that JL Pomeroy is its current chief marketing officer, having taken charge of the movie technology company’s global marketing efforts on July 11. She replaces Eileen Campbell, who has served in the role since 2013 and moved on to “other interests,” according to the company. Pomeroy is the founder of the JumpLine Group agency, which she ran before joining IMAX.

Virgin Australia Picks Up Former Bank GM As Marketing Director

Michael Nearhos, who previously served as the general manager of brand experience at the National Australia Bank, has been appointed to the newly created role of marketing director at Virgin Australia. Nearhos has served in multiple senior marketing roles throughout his career at institutions such as the Commonwealth Bank Australia and Interbrand in London in addition to having experience in the airline and hotel industries.

Bridgestone VP Retirement Triggers Marketing Appointments

Bridgestone Americas made several executive changes to the marketing divisions for both its consumer tire business and retail operations. The moves follow the announcement that Phil Pacsi will officially retire as the company’s vice president of sports and events marketing and training on September 30.

Amber Holm has been promoted to vice president of marketing, consumer and customer engagement in the US and Canada, where she will lead activities on sports and entertainment platforms such as the NFL, NHL and the PGA Tour.

Jeffrey Lack is taking the role vice president of marketing for the consumer tire division in the US and Canada. Lack is tasked with leading marketing efforts across the company’s consumer tire business, which includes brand building and digital engagement programs.

Dave Nientimp has been named vice president of marketing and merchandising for Bridgestone Retail Operations. In this position, he will oversee the overall marketing strategy for the company’s retail locations, which includes brand building, digital initiatives and tire and service merchandising.

Constellation Brands Beer Up Marketing VP

Alcohol beverage company Constellation Brands has promoted John Alvarado to senior vice president of brand marketing for its beer division. Alvarado will provide strategic direction for the company’s marketing teams across several beer brands while serving on Constellation’s marketing leadership team.

LA Philharmonic Names Marketing VP

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has appointed Philip Koester to be vice president of marketing and communications. Koester was previously the vice president for sales and marketing at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, and he steps into his new position on September 10. In this role, he will lead and manage all of the organization’s marketing communications and sales operations.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Phil to the Los Angeles Philharmonic,” said CEO Simon Woods in a statement. “His experience both in Chicago and Los Angeles, his understanding of digital marketing, and his commitment to reaching audiences across traditional social boundaries make him the perfect person to lead the LA Phil’s audience building into a new era.”

JPMorgan Chase Hires Chief Media Officer

Investment bank JPMorgan Chase announced that it has hired Andrew Knott to serve in the newly created chief media officer role. Before the appointment, Knott served as the chief marketing officer for the National Australia Bank and held a high-level marketing role at McDonald’s. In his new position, he is tasked with overseeing Chase’s paid, owned and earned media as the financial institution continues to grow its digital media strategy.

PepsiCo Marketing Chief To Depart

PepsiCo chief marketing officer Kristin Patrick announced that she is leaving the company effective July 27. Patrick has been with PepsiCo since 2013, and most recently oversaw the company’s in-house content studio, the Creators League Studio.

Unilever CMO To Head Ad Association

The Advertising Association has named Unilever CMO Keith Weed as its newest president. He replaces Travelopia CEO Andy Duncan who had served in the role since 2013 and will head the organization in its mission to further strengthen the UK’s ad industry. As CMO, Weed most recently called for reforms in influencer marketing space to reduce fraud.

Bally Names CMO

Swiss luxury fashion brand Bally hired Eva Quirrenbach as chief marketing officer at the same time it promoted Silvia Onofri to chief executive officer of the EMEA region. Before joining Bally, Quirrenbach served as Tory Burch’s vice president of global brand marketing. Onofri will continue in her role as the company’s vice president of global wholesale.

Yeti Hires Marketing Head

Kristi Jackson will lead all the marketing initiatives for Yeti Cycles as its newly hired marketing director. She most recently served as director of digital media and commerce for Nike North America, where she executed a variety of acquisition and engagement programs.

“Kristi’s experience leading strategic marketing programs will be vital as we look to the future of Yeti,” Yeti president Chris Conroy said in a statement. “Her passion for creating consumer-led marketing programs and ability to manage multifaceted campaigns to support business priorities uniquely position her for success with Yeti.”

Nielsen CEO To Retire At Year’s End

Mitch Barns, Nielsen’s chief executive officer and member of the Board of Directors, announced that he will retire at the end of 2018 after serving with the company for over 20 years. The current chairman of the board James Attwood has been named executive chairman, and he will direct the search for Barns’ replacement. In his two-decade career, Barnes has held leadership roles across all of Nielsen’s major businesses.

“Mitch has left an indelible mark on Nielsen—his commitment to integrity, openness, values and engagement will continue to be the heart of this company for years to come,” said Attwood in a statement. “I, along with the rest of the Board of Directors, thank him for his service.”

Universal Studios Hires Former Bank Exec To Lead Marketing

Mariela Ure, who was previously the head of enterprise consumer segments strategy at Wells Fargo & Co., is now the new chief marketing officer at Universal Studios Hollywood. She will lead the theme park’s overall brand direction in addition to CityWalk’s dining, shopping and entertainment experiences in Universal City.

Hearst Magazines Names President

Hearst Magazines announced that Troy Young will be assuming the role of president, succeeding David Carey, who announced his departure last month. Young previously served as president of Hearst Magazines Digital Media, a role he has served for five years.

“Troy understands how vital it is for our brands to engage more actively with consumers across platforms,” Hearst chief operating officer Mark Aldam stated in a memo. “His innovative approach to product development and high-quality brand experiences will continue to propel our industry-leading magazines forward.”

NBC Sports Picks New President

Pete Bevacqua has joined NBC Sports Group in the newly created role of president. He officially steps in the position in September, and will be tasked with overseeing marketing, programming and digital for the group in addition to the NBC Sports Regional Networks and all golf businesses. Bevacqua was most recently CEO at PGA America, a position he held for the past six years.

HyreCar Appoints Independent Director

Ridesharing service HyreCar announced that Brooke Skinner Ricketts has joined its board of directors. Skinner Ricketts is currently the chief marketing officer at Cars.com and has extensive experience related to the automotive industry.

In a statement, HyreCar CEO Joe Furnari said, “Brooke brings a wealth of invaluable experience and strategy to our board of directors. Her tenure at industry-leading technology companies, such as Cars.com, has been focused on ensuring that their digital marketplaces are well trusted by both consumers and partners, while enhancing the overall brand and image. We are eager to leverage her experience as we gain critical mass and grow our platform.”

Restaurant Group Reinstates CMO Role

The Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group announced that Mia Meachem will oversee the organization’s overall marketing, innovation and consumer engagement strategy as chief marketing officer. Meachem served as chief marketing officer at Highland Park Village before joining Del Frisco’s, which is comprised of 84 restaurants across 24 states and Washington, DC. The group revived the CMO role as part of its ongoing expansion efforts.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mia to the Del Frisco’s family. Her significant industry experience and knowledge paired with her strong leadership skills is a testament to our continued commitment to assemble a strong leadership team,” Norman Abdallah, CEO of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, said in a statement. “Mia’s past experiences working with consumer-focused companies will be undoubtedly instrumental to elevate our marketing and innovation efforts moving forward.”

Multiple SVP Promotions At Intel

Technology company Intel announced three executive promotions, including Michelle Johnston Holthaus as senior vice president. Holthaus currently serves as Intel’s interim chief marketing officer and general manager for the company’s sales and marketing group and is responsible for Intel’s global sales and revenue as it adopts new marketing approaches.

The two other appointments are Daniel McNamara and Allon Stabinsky, who were both promoted to senior vice president roles at different Intel divisions.

Ottawa Senators Score Chief Marketing Officer

Professional NHL team The Ottawa Senators announced that Aimee Deziel is joining the organization as chief marketing officer. She officially assumes the role on August 13 and will be responsible for strengthening the Senators’ marketing, sales and creative capabilities. Deziel most recently served as chief operating officer for the Momentous holding company.

Former Deloitte Partner Joins Blockchain Network

Aion Foundation, a blockchain technology network, has hired former Deloitte partner Ian Chan as a senior executive. In this role, Chan will lead operations in addition to the marketing and communications team as Aion continues to build its brand. Chan served at Deloitte for 13 years and was most recently a senior partner for its global innovation and disruption team, where he was tasked with tracking global technological trends.

“Ian has been a mentor of mine for some time, and I couldn’t be happier that he’s agreed to join our team as we position Aion to lead the blockchain ecosystem for years to come,” Aion Foundation CEO Matthew Spoke said in a statement. “This is a meaningful milestone for the growth of the Aion Foundation and for our ability to execute on our vision.”

Children’s Healthcare Organization Hires First CMO

Nonprofit healthcare organization Nemours Children’s Health System has hired Sarah Sanders (not the current White House press secretary) to the newly created role of chief marketing officer. In this role, she is tasked with leading local, regional and national marketing strategies across Central and North Florida in addition to the Delaware Valley. Prior to joining Nemours, Sanders served as the associate chief marketing officer for the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

“As a parent of three children, including a special needs child, I understand first-hand the challenges of navigating a complex health situation,” Sanders said in the announcement. “For a marketer, this is an exciting opportunity to apply my expertise in data and technology to create personalized, relevant and value-added engagement opportunities for patients and their families.”

Vauxhall Motors Appoints Former Toyota Exec As Marketing Head

Patrick Fourniol, a former executive at Toyota, has joined Vauxhall Motors as marketing director. Fourniol’s career includes marketing and sales roles at Toyota, Renault and Volkswagen in France, Germany and Belgium. According to a statement, he will be working to support the automaker’s brand recovery.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Patrick to our Company. Having started his marketing career in sales forecasting and research, and having taken full responsibility for product marketing and marketing communications, Patrick is one of the few top-level automotive professionals who can genuinely claim 360-degree marketing management experience in our industry,” said Stephen Norman, group managing director at Vauxhall Motors and Opel Ireland.

Former Madison Square Garden Company Marketing Chief Joins Betting Platform

Sports betting and gaming company William Hill announced the appointment of Sharon Otterman as its new chief marketing officer in the US. Most recently, Otterman served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer for the Madison Square Garden Company.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sharon to our rapidly-expanding team at William Hill, particularly during such an exciting time in our growth process,” said William Hill US CEO Joe Asher in a statement. “Sharon is a proven leader, and we are thrilled that we could pull her away from one of the most high-profile jobs in sports marketing to join William Hill.”

GAME Shuffles Executive Team

UK-based retailer GAME underwent restructures of its senior management team amid store closures. As a result of these changes, David Howard, who was the UK retail and property director, is now the UK managing director. In this position, Howard will oversee all of GAME’s commercial and marketing teams. Although there was no formal announcement, this shift means that Natalie Amosu, who joined the company as chief marketing officer last year, is no longer serving the post.

Marketing VP Moves Into YES Communities

YES Communities, owner and operator of manufactured home communities, announced that it has hired Vanessa Jasinski as its new vice president of marketing. Prior to joining YES, Jasinksi was the executive director of marketing for RE/MAX World Headquarters and has worked for both international and national corporations in Boston, New York, Seattle and Denver. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s strategic marketing vision by developing brand experiences with a focus on digital platforms while supporting the company’s team and residents.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly careers post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, July 27. Have a new hire tip? We’re looking for senior executive role changes in marketing and media. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

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