The Black Enterprise list of Leading Women in Advertising and Marketing highlights the women whose ideas and strategies have placed them at the top of their game, enabling them to make a mark in the advertising and marketing world. Here, BlackEnterprise.com wants you to meet the chief marketing officers behind some of the most recognized and admired corporate brands, including IKEA North America, Jamba Juice, and the National Basketball Association.
These leading ladies are excelling in their role as CMO; not only by following through with the traditional duties of overseeing the company’s marketing initiatives, but also by taking risks and ensuring that brands cater to the ever-growing multicultural America. They continue to create winning strategies that push their companies to perform successful diverse marketing, facilitate growth, and generate more consumer awareness.
Sheryl Adkins-Green, Chief Marketing Officer, Mary Kay Inc.
Sheryl Adkins-Green
Sheryl Adkins-Green leads Mary Kay’s global marketing strategy, brand positioning, new product development, advertising, and digital marketing initiatives. Her work has helped drive long-term growth and has supported the more than three million independent beauty consultants.
Phyllis Anderson, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Express Scripts Inc.
Phyllis Anderson
Phyllis Anderson is responsible for corporate branding, corporate communications, division marketing and marketing services at Express Scripts. She is credited with helping to reinvigorate the brand, redefine their value proposition and position the company in a more positive light with clients.
Leilani M. Brown, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Starr Companies
Leilani Brown
With more than 20 years of insurance, marketing, and strategy experience under her belt, Brown oversees the company’s strategic marketing, brand management, advertising, corporate communications, and digital strategy. She implements clear, simple goals and has increased brand awareness with Starr’s target audience.
Tracey D. Brown, Senior Vice President & Chief Member Officer, Sam’s Club
Tracey Brown manages a team of more than 2,000 employees and is responsible for growing and developing the Sam’s Club membership base by acquiring, engaging, and retaining new members. She understands the value of having a strong connection with diverse consumers and prides herself and her team on instilling diverse hiring practices within the company. “I not only want people who look like me and think like me, I also want the polar opposite of that,” she told Black Enterprise.
Jerri DeVard, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, ADT Corp.
Jerri DeVard
DeVard leads ADT’s marketing efforts across the residential, business, and health business units. She is responsible for all strategic, operational and financial aspects of ADT’s integrated marketing programs, including brand advertising and digital marketing.
Pam K. El, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, National Basketball Association
Pam K. El
Pam El is a recognized industry leader in brand management, marketing strategy, creative development and sponsorships. She is responsible for the NBA’s global marketing operation, directing brand development, overall marketing, and advertising for the NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League. In 2012 she was included in Advertising Age’s “100 Most Influential Women in Advertising” list.
Vicky Free, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, BET Networks, Viacom
Vicky Free
Vicky Free directs the brand, marketing and creative strategy for all businesses of BET Networks, including BET and CENTRIC, across all platforms. She also oversees on-air promotions, off-channel and digital marketing within the company. Among her many accomplishments is her breakout campaigns for Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and The Closer.
Leontyne Green Sykes, Chief Marketing Officer, IKEA North America
Leontyne Green Sykes
When Leontyne Green Sykes scored the position as chief marketing officer at IKEA North America it was the perfect chance for her to pursue her passion for marketing. In this role she gets to focus on programs that deliver growth and awareness of the brand, as well as listen to consumers and provide solutions to their challenges.
Thai Randolph, CMO/Head of Marketing & Client Partnerships, relentlessGENERATOR, a division of Sony DADC
Thai Randolph
The very results-driven leader oversees marketing, creative services, client partnerships, and business intelligence teams at relentlessGENERATOR, a company that provides hundreds of direct-to-consumers music and entertainment stores. She is also responsible for the development and execution of brand building for well-known names including AMC and The History Channel.
Priscilla Sims Brown, Senior Executive Director & Chief Marketing Officer, AXA U.S.
Priscilla Sims Brown
Priscilla Sims Brown is an accomplished builder of new and growing businesses and prides herself with an expertise in turning around little known and/or weakened brands. It’s easy to see why she was chosen by AXA. Prior to this role she served as chief marketing and development officer at AmeriHealth Caritas, where she helped the company expand into new markets.
Julie Washington, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, Jamba Juice
Julie Washington
Washington leads the company’s marketing efforts, which have greatly expanded consumer awareness and engagement with the brand. Under her leadership, the company saw its Facebook presence expand to over 1.6 million followers and updated its online and mobile visibility to become more consumer-relevant.
Mary Beth West, Executive Vice President & Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, J.C. Penney
Mary Beth West
Following a lengthy career at Kraft Food Group, Mary Beth West was tapped by J.C. Penny to lend her 30-year expertise in helping the company revitalize its brand and build an emotional connection to consumers. The accomplished marketer’s vast experience developing and growing some of the world’s most trusted and well-known brands was instrumental in her hiring.