As the week wraps up, more companies and agencies are changing the faces of their executive leadership.
Fernando Machado leaves Activision Blizzard
One of the world’s most well-known marketing leaders has decided to re-enter the food market after working in the gaming industry with Activision Blizzard.
Previously working for Burger King, Machado left the fast food giant to join Activision Blizzard as the CMO. Now, after two years, he’s taking on NotCo’s CMO position.
NotCo is a food-tech company that works on plant-based foods. In his position, Machado will help expand NotCo’s footprint in product-making and partnerships.
“I subscribe to the ambition/ vision of reinventing the food industry one delicious mouthful at a time,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “And the more I got to know the people from NotCo, the more I felt compelled to be part of the team.”
VideoAmp hires Jenny Wall
Advertising platform VideoAmp recently hired Jenny Wall for the newly created CMO role.
In her new position, Wall will oversee VideoAmp’s brand and marketing strategy, promoting the platform’s mission to increase the value of advertising.
Previously, Wall was Nickelodeon’s CMO for four years. She’s also taken on executive roles for companies like Netflix, and Hulu.
“This is personal. I know how it is to feel flat-footed in front of the CEO, the CFO or the Board when justifying ROI on media decisions and investments,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “And, I am so glad to be part of VideAmp’s mission to redefine the way media is valued, bought and sold! Let’s go!!”
Deborah Wahl is leaving GM
After almost four years, GM CMO Deborah Wahl is leaving the automotive company as she suddenly announced her retirement earlier this week.
The announcement came nearly two years after Wahl met with Byron Allen and a group of Black media owners who, according to a Detroit Free Press story, “blasted [GM CEO Mary Barra] as racist in an ad.” Her retirement also comes as GM deals with quick changes to the automotive industry like softening sales due to rising interest rates, and massive investments in electric cars. Like many companies, GM also announced a two-year plan in early January that involved job cuts.
Wahl has a long history in the automotive market, working with companies like Ford, Toyota and Mazda.
Billion Dollar Boy announces new CMO
Marketing agency Billion Dollar Boy recently announced Becky Owen as the new CMO.
Previously Meta’s head of creator innovation and solutions, leading the Creators for Business strategy for the brand’s family of apps across the EMEA region, Owen left after almost five years with the big tech giant.
“Becky joins with a huge amount of industry experience which will be crucial to driving the agency’s growth forward,” Global CEO and Co-Founder Ed East announced. “Having worked with her as a key partner of the agency for many years, we also know how passionate she is about the creator economy and how well respected she is as a leader in the industry.”
He continued, “I’m sure she will continue to bring original strategic thinking, endless energy, a desire to innovate and an infectious enthusiasm for creator marketing to her new role.”
On her LinkedIn, Owen wrote, “Over the last 4.7 years leading Creator Marketing for Meta EMEA, I’ve worked with creator agencies worldwide, developing innovative strategies and producing best-in-class campaigns with leading brands. In that time, Billion Dollar Boy became my most trusted partner.”
She continued, “Getting this opportunity to be part of Billion Dollar Boy at a fascinating time in the industry is a real privilege. There is so much opportunity for continued excellence, and… what excites me the most… growth! This space is full of potential, and I can’t wait to work with the BDB team to explore what that is.”
