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| Nelly Kennedy |
Volkswagen Passenger Cars hires Google senior global brand marketing director Nelly Kennedy as CMO, effective mid-February 2023. She succeeds Jochen Sengpiehl, who has moved to Volkswagen Group China as CMO. Before joining Google, she was executive director digital at Condé Nast International and held several senior posts in global marketing at Adidas. “I am convinced that Nelly Kennedy and the expertise she brings with her will make a decisive contribution to giving Volkswagen a clear brand profile in all regions,” said Volkswagen Passenger Cars board member for sales, marketing and after-sales Imelda Labbé.
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| Leslie Sims |
Impossible Foods, which produces plant-based “meat” products, hires Deloitte Digital chief creative officer Leslie Sims to serve as its chief marketing and creative officer, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Before joining Deloitte in 2021, Sims served as chief creative officer, USA at Ogilvy and CCO/North America at Young & Rubicam. At Impossible Foods, Sims will be tasked with building out the company’s marketing and creative functions as it works to significantly increase consumer awareness and trial. while pulling well ahead of other plant-based brands into a category of its own. “Leslie knows how to set the creative vision for brands and businesses in hypergrowth, build and lead high-performing teams, and create emotional connections with consumers,” said Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness.
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| Ana Villegas |
Saas platform AffiniPay brings on Ana Villegas as chief marketing officer. Villegas was most recently CMO at National Instruments. She previously spent more than 16 years at Dell leading digital marketing initiatives, as well as launching digital payments in the financial sector in Peru. In her new post, Villegas will lead marketing and help drive growth for AffiniPay’s payment and software offerings. “Ana is the ideal fit to lead our marketing strategy,” said AffiniPay CEO Dru Armstrong, who added that the company “will lean on her wealth of experience as we expand our technology-enabled products.”
LaVoieHealthScience promotes Lisa DeScenza to president... Buffalo Groupe, which works with golf, hospitality and real estate brands, ups Glenn Gray to chief growth officer.... Marketbridge, a Bethesda, MD-based marketing consultant, names Mike Swartz chief growth officer and Ellie Ahmadi as SVP of global corporate marketing.
The Ladies Professional Golf Association names Chad Coleman CMO, effective Feb. 3. Coleman was most recently chief brand officer at YouTube channel Dude Perfect... Strategic Objectives promotes Sadie Tory and Saul Lewis to VP... Signal Group ups Scott Lusk and Jess McCarron to managing directors.
The Walt Disney Company names Asad Ayaz to lead its newly established enterprise marketing and brand organization... Kaiser Permanente, which provides integrated healthcare services, is bringing on Beth Leonard as SVP and chief public affairs officer, effective Feb. 2. Leonard was most recently chief corporate affairs officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance... AIC Hotel Group, which operates such brands as Nobu Hotels, Hard Rock Hotels, AVA Resort and Spa and the UNICO Collection, hires Delia Osegueda as VP, global partnerships.
Sarah Knakmuhs, who formerly led H/Advisors Abernathy’s DC office, is joining the Financial Services Forum as chief communications and strategy officer.
Brian Hughes, chief of staff at NASA, has joined Mercury Public Affairs as a partner in its Tallahassee office.
