This Week’s Exec Shifts: News Corp CMO Tony Phillips Departs

This week: News Corp and StarHub both lose marketing heads, AWAL appoints a new head of artist marketing and Rue 21 makes some executive changes following bankruptcy. In addition, LiveXLive appoints an interim marketing chief, Wingstop pegs a Holiday Inn and Coca-Cola veteran to lead its global marketing efforts, Kraft Heinz names a new chief marketing officer, Stitch Fix lands a Google exec as its new CMO, Uber’s marketing chief moves to Endeavor and Duolingo invests in original programming with its latest hire.

News Corp Confirms Upcoming Departure Of Tony Phillips

After serving for two and a half years, News Corp chief marketing officer Tony Phillips will exit the company at the end of 2018 to return to this hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Phillips plans to establish his own brand consultancy firm, with News Corp as his first client. Plans by NewsCorp to fill the chief marketing officer role next year have not been divulged.

“Since joining us two-and-a-half years ago, Tony has demonstrated a deep passion for our brands, a deep affection for our business and limitless creativity for re-energizing our brand positioning in the market,” said NewsCorp in a statement.

AWAL Names Michael Pukownik SVP, Head Of Artist Marketing NA

Kobalt Music’s AWAL recordings company has appointed Michael Pukownik as senior vice president and head of artist marketing for North America. Pukownik will oversee artist marketing campaigns for the AWAL line-up from its Los Angeles office and drive digital marketing strategy.  Previous to joining AWAL, Pukownik served three years as vice president of marketing at Warner Bros. Records.

StarHub Confirms Exit Of CMO, VP Of Brand Experience

Howie Lau, chief marketing officer and head of consumer business is leaving StarHub for a job in the public service sector. He first joined the company in 2015.

“StarHub has been an amazing chapter in my life and I am grateful for all the opportunities, partnerships and friendships which will last beyond the turning of pages. I am confident that StarHub will continue her transformation journey amidst the disruptions in the industry and emerge more successful than before,” said Lau.

Vice president of brand experience Oliver Chong is also leaving StarHub “with a heavy heart” and will take a marketing position with another brand. He served the company for over 18 years.

“Together with the team and our agency partners, we have grown the brand and produced many award-winning campaigns that allowed us to connect with our customers,” wrote Chong. “We have a strong foundation and I am confident that the current team of experienced and dedicated marketing professionals at StarHub will continue to build upon the brand’s success.”

Rue 21 Hires Stephen Sommers As Chief Marketing Officer

Teen apparel brand Rue 21 has appointed Stephen Sommers as senior VP and chief marketing officer. Most recently, Sommers was chief marketing officer at Vineyard Vines.

Sommers’ appointment comes at a time of renewal and executive changes for Rue 21, which exited bankruptcy in September. Rue 21 has also appointed Laurie Van Brunt to the role of chief marketing officer effective June 25. Van Brunt previously served as president of Soma Intimate for Chico’s FAS, as well as corporate vice president and director of private brand management at J. C. Penney Company.

Rue21 has named Michele Pascoe as senior VP and CFO, succeeding Stephen Coulombe who was named interim finance head in March 2018.

LiveXLive Appoints Jonathan Anastas Interim CMO

Jonathan Anastas joins digital media company LiveXLive as its interim chief marketing officer this week. In his new position, Anastas will oversee marketing activities for all operating units, including LiveXLive and Slacker Radio. Prior to his work at LiveXLive, Anastas has acted as marketing chief for TEN: a Discovery Communications Company, as well as a number of video game brands including Atari and Activision Blizzard.

Wingstop Names Maurice Cooper SVP, Chief Marketing Officer

Maurice Cooper has been appointed Wingstop’s new senior vice president and chief marketing officer. In his new role, Cooper will be responsible for overseeing the chain’s global marketing strategy and execution. Cooper brings more than 15 years of experience to Wingstop and most recently served as global vice president of Holiday Inn.

“Maurice has a strong track record of success as an award-winning marketer, as well as a business leader dedicated to consumer and franchisee satisfaction,” Charlie Morrison, chairman and CEO of Wingstop said in a statement. “As we continue to rapidly expand our footprint, Maurice will have an instrumental role in building and promoting the Wingstop brand globally.”

Kraft Heinz Appoints Karina Ong CMO For APAC Region

Karina Ong joins Kraft Heinz this week as the new chief marketing officer for the Asia Pacific region. As CMO, Ong will lead growth and spearhead long-term innovation for the brand from her location in Singapore.

Prior to joining Kraft Heinz, Ong serves as global brand development director for Pond’s and other roles under parent company Unilever. Prior to Unilever, Ong was also responsible for leading key brand and marketing teams at Johnson & Johnson and Lux Asia.

Stitch Fix Hires Deirdre Findlay As Chief Marketing Officer

Personal stylist brand Stitch Fix has appointed Deirdre Findlay its new chief marketing officer. In her new role, Findlay will lead all marketing, creative, and communications initiatives for the company. Bringing over 20 years of experience to the brand, Findlay most recently served as senior director of global hardware marketing at Google, where she oversaw marketing for Google’s home hardware products, including Google Home, Chromecast, and Google Wifi.

“Deirdre is a strategic leader with a deep understanding of what drives consumer behavior and how to connect with clients in an authentic way,” said Katrina Lake, founder and CEO of Stitch Fix. “Her blend of vision, creativity, insight, and practical experience building personal and relatable brand experiences will be a major asset to the company as we focus on defining our brand and growing the business. We’re thrilled to have her join our team

Duolingo Appoints Tim Shey Head Of Original Programming

Tim Shey joins language learning app Duolingo this week, where he will lead original content on the platform. Shey recently served as YouTube head of scripted original programming. Duolingo recently expanded its offerings to include original programming such as a documentary about refugees and a Spanish podcast.

Bozoma Saint John Joins Endeavor As CMO

After a year with the company, Bozoma Saint John has exited Uber and has been appointed chief marketing officer at voice talent agency Endeavor. Saint John’s entertainment industry connections will no doubt aide her in this new position. While her exit appeared sudden, Uber expressed gratitude when informing employees of the change.

“She has been a fantastic ambassador and evangelist for our brand, and we’re in a better place because of her vision and her work,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wrote in an internal memo acquired by Recode.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly careers post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, June 15. 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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