This week in leadership updates, Hilton CMO Kellyn Smith Kenny steps down following company-wide furloughs, Estée Lauder names Jane Lauder as executive vice president, enterprise marketing and chief data officer, Yoshinoya hires Kim Freer as CMO and more.

Hilton Chief Marketing Officer Kellyn Smith Kenny Steps Down

According to Adweek, Hilton CMO Kellyn Smith Kenny is departing just two days after the company furloughed nearly 2,100 employees.

Kenny Smith joined Hilton in 2018. Prior to that, she served as CMO of Uber from 2016 to 2018.

Estée Lauder Names Jane Lauder As Executive Vice President, Enterprise Marketing And Chief Data Officer

Jane Lauder will assume the newly created role of executive VP, enterprise marketing and chief data officer for Estée Lauder.

In her new position, Lauder will be tasked with leveraging strategic insights to drive the personalized marketing for the company.

Lauder has been with Estée Lauder for over 23 years and was most recently global brand president of Clinique. She will be succeeded by Michelle Freyre, who will join Clinique as senior vice president, general manager.

Yoshinoya Hires Kim Freer As Chief Marketing Officer

Yoshinoya brought on Kim Freer, Blaze Pizza’s former vice president of brand marketing, as CMO in March, QSR Web reports.

Freer will be responsible for launching the company’s digital expansion including its first loyalty program.

Kimberly-Clark Names Zena Arnold As Chief Digital And Marketing Officer

Kimberly-Clark has appointed Zena Arnold to the newly created role of chief digital and marketing officer, which will require her to oversee the company’s global marketing teams and drive digital transformation of its brands.

Arnold was most recently global head of growth of Google’s Chrome OS business. Prior to Google, Arnold held global and US brand management positions at Kellogg Company and Procter & Gamble.

Buffalo Wild Wings Chief Marketing Officer Seth Freeman Steps Down

Buffalo Wild Wings CMO Seth Freeman is departing after two years with the company, citing no reason for his departure.

Freeman joined the company six months after it was acquired by Inspire Brands in February 2018.

According to brand president Lyle Tick, the company is actively seeking a replacement.

AT&T Chief Brand And Advertising Officer Fiona Carter To Depart

According to an internal memo obtained by Axios, AT&T chief brand and advertising officer Fiona Carter is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.

Carter joined AT&T in 2015 from Omnicom where she served as chief operating officer of advertising, branding and research.

Rakuten Rewards Names Dana Marineau As Chief Marketing Officer

Dana Marineau has joined Rakuten Rewards as CMO, with the responsibility of strengthening Rakuten’s consumer recognition and launching new loyalty programs.

Marineau comes from Credit Karma where she was VP of brand, creative and communications.

Prior to that, Marineau served as a marketing executive at Electronic Arts for over 15 years in the global advertising, design and creative space for video game brands.

NASCAR Hires Brandon Thompson As Vice President, Diversity And Inclusion

NASCAR has appointed Brandon Thompson to the newly created position of VP, diversity and inclusion. Thompson will expand the company’s diversity efforts and oversee an existing team of employees responsible for multicultural programs including the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, and partnerships with the Institute for Sport and Social Justice and the Diversity and Inclusion Sports Consortium.  

Thompson was previously managing director of the NASCAR Touring Series.

Merrell Promotes Janice Tennant To CMO Position

Merrell, an outdoor footwear brand in Wolverine Worldwide’s portfolio, announced the promotion of Janice Tennant to chief marketing officer. Her appointment to senior leadership was announced in April and made effective just last week, according to Grand Rapids Business Journal. 

Tennant’s previous roles include serving as CMO for Cat Footwear, global footwear licensee of Caterpillar, Inc. She was also previously director of marketing at Kimberly-Clark and PepsiCo.

Universal Music Group Nashville Promotes Leigh Parr Malleus To VP Of Media Marketing

Leigh Parr Malleus has been promoted to VP of media marketing at Universal Music Group Nashville, where she will oversee the publicity department including Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Records Nashville, Mercury Nashville and MCA Nashville.

Before joining UMG Nashville in 2013, Malleus was a publicist with Essential Broadcast Media and worked in artist management for McGhee Entertainment, respectively.