Taco Bell Chief Marketing Officer Marisa Thalberg Is She Runs It© 2017 Woman Of The Year

NEW YORK, June 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In pursuit of its mission to pave the way for more women to lead at all levels of marketing and media, She Runs It^© routinely celebrates women and men who serve as role models for the industry, including an annual salute to one leader who best embodies the fearless spirit of the organization: Woman of the Year. Marisa Thalberg, CMO of Taco Bell, is the 2017 recipient of the award.

According to Lynn Branigan, President and CEO of She Runs It, Thalberg stood out as an inventive leader of a brand that thrives on its own unique expression.

"Marisa is described as an 'intrapreneur' and agent of change who is driven by a fascination with culture, media and psychology," said Branigan. "She doesn't shy away from the irreverence of Taco Bell's personality. Instead, she amplifies it by inspiring her team and agencies to think about an established brand in unexpected ways, creating cultural topspin moments. She is also a tireless mentor and champion of women who founded Executive Moms in 2002 as a source of networking, content and community for women who want to excel as professionals and mothers."

Thalberg has presided over Taco Bell marketing experiences that include Snapchat lenses, emojis and animated Twitter responses. Her team made Taco Bell a destination wedding venue in Vegas and fueled the invention of the Quesalupa – the wildly successful quesadilla/chalupa mash, infusing new spice into a cult-status QSR.

"I am humbled and inspired by this award from She Runs It," said Thalberg. "When you are recognized by an organization that exists to 'pave the way for more women to lead,' it is as much a responsibility as it is an honor. Only 23 percent of the nation's top CMOs are women, and if I can help pave the way for that number to get closer to 50 percent, I would be supremely gratified by that."

Thalberg started her career as an account executive at Saatchi & Saatchi, moved to J. Walter Thompson before taking leadership roles at Revlon, Unilever Cosmetics International and Sure Fit before joining The Estée Lauder Companies in 2007. There, she became the first senior digital marketer at The Estée Lauder Companies, establishing a global digital and social marketing capability across its nearly 30 brands to modernize consumer engagement. She joined Taco Bell in 2015 as its first Chief Engagement Officer, and was elevated to CMO eight months later.

About She Runs It
Founded in 1912 as Advertising Women of New York (formerly AWNY), She Runs It exists to pave the way for women to lead at every level of marketing and media. With chapters in New York and Chicago, membership stands at over 2,300 women, men and corporate alliance partners.  To learn more about She Runs It, visit Sherunsit.org.

For more information:
Cheri Carpenter
312.446.9276
[email protected]

SOURCE She Runs It

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