The Executive Marketer Summit
With limited seats available, we invite CMOs, VPs, SVPs, and EVPs to apply for an opportunity to attend this exclusive gathering of industry leaders dedicated to the vanguard of marketing excellence.
MAY 12-13, 2025 • CHICAGO, IL
The Executive Marketer Summit is a selective, application-based event for executive marketing professionals. Designed to address real-world challenges, this vendor-free environment fosters meaningful connections and insights. Applications are reviewed to maintain a high-quality experience, where attendees explore how disruption fuels innovation and business growth.
Applicants are assessed based on leadership level and experience to ensure peer-to-peer interactions. The summit is for executives responsible for driving growth and overseeing marketing and communications strategies.
Factors considered for acceptance include:
Engage with high-value thinkers across diverse industries and business models to foster impactful discussions and build authentic connections.
CEO
WALK WEST
FOUNDER AND CEO
SUZY
AWARD-WINNING MARKETER, CULTURAL TRANSLATOR, PROFESSOR AND
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
VICE CHAIR
STAGWELL
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS & BRAND OFFICER
SOLVENTUM
EXECUTIVE FELLOW
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
VP, U.S. MARKETING, BRAND, CONTENT & CULTURE
MCDONALD'S
FORMER CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
VOLTA CHARGING
CHIEF DIGITAL AND TRANSFORMATION OFFICER
BRIGHT HORIZONS
CHIEF BRAND OFFICER
e.l.f. BEAUTY
CHIEF MARKETING AND TRANSFORMATION OFFICER
ANALOG DEVICES
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
CHICAGO FIRE FC
FORMER CMO
PEARPOP
SVP, INTEGRATED CAMPAIGN PLANNING, GLOBAL MARKETING
HASBRO
ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESEARCH AND DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR AND FOUNDING GENERAL DIRECTOR OF ITS DIGITAL, ANALYTICS, TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION (DATA) INITIATIVE
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENT
NASCAR
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | GENERAL MANAGER
PLEZi NUTRITION
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
THE DIVERSITY MOVEMENT, A WORKPLACE OPTIONS COMPANY
Identifying the insights and signals marketers need to heed to remain future-proof
Exploring the potential industry and societal disruptions ahead that will demand risk-taking and bold leadership
Equipping teams and organizations with the network, resources, strategies and tools to be disruption-ready
Dissect the internal and external factors that invoke the need to take risks from competition to innovation to social issues to organizational
change
Conduct an in-depth look at why, how, and when marketing disruptors drive innovation, turning challenges into exciting opportunities for success.
Uncover what gets in the way of risk-taking or what happens when risks don’t pay off
Effectively manage across the executive suite
Scenario planning, communication strategies, and risk assessment
Develop your skills to effectively support risk management
Technology Disruption
Navigate the rapid pace of tech disruption by balancing risk and innovation, investing smartly in martech and building agility for future challenges.
Market Disruption
Explore the forces driving market disruption beyond technology.
Marketing Talent
Overcome the shifting talent landscape by recruiting, upskilling and retaining top performers.
Influence
Galvanize your organization. Build alignment across the C-suite, show the value of marketing initiatives and master executive skills to lead with impact.
The agenda is subject to change.
12:00 p.m. Lunch & Networking
1:00 p.m. Welcome & Opening Session
1:15 p.m. AI + Beyond: The Holy Grail to the Future of Bold Marketing?
Technology has been disrupting the way we do business for centuries. AI is driving radical advancements in the way we work faster than the world can keep up. The question is not when but how will we adapt and stay ahead of the AI revolution.
Speakers:
2:30 p.m. Small Group Discussion
Consider how the preceding panel insights apply to your work. Through guided questions, uncover key lessons, identify challenges and collaborate with peers to create actionable solutions.
2:45 p.m. Personalization: The New Competitive Battleground
David Edelman will describe how personalization is the key to unlocking the GROWTH potential of AI. It is a broader strategy, not just a marketing tactic, that provides marketing leaders with an opportunity to guide the C-Suite forward. He'll lay out the five "promises of personalization" -- empower me, know me, reach me, show me, delight me -- providing a framework for shaping your strategy, prioritizing investments, and planning pilots. Along the way, he'll illustrate how AI is way more than ChatGPT and public LLM's -- there are different AI capabilities that can enable the five promises, and leaders have already been incorporating them into their operations for several years. This is not the future. It is becoming a basis of competition right now.
3:30 p.m. Disrupting in the Face of Disruption
Market disruption is no longer just about technology—it’s driven by shifting consumer expectations, societal changes, economic dynamics and global events. How do you turn disruption into a competitive advantage, ensuring long-term success in an evolving market?
Speakers:
4:15 p.m. Small Group Discussion
Consider how the preceding panel insights apply to your work. Through guided questions, uncover key lessons, identify challenges and collaborate with peers to create actionable solutions.
4:45 p.m. Spotlight Session
Speaker:
5:30 p.m. Break Before Tonight’s Networking Event
Take some time to refresh and recharge before the evening's festivities. Network with fellow attendees or simply unwind and prepare for the evening ahead.
6:30 p.m. Dinner & Discussions
8:00 a.m. Breakfast & Networking
8:45 a.m. Future Proofing with Talent
As technology continues to reshape marketing, it is not only the tools and tactics that are evolving but also the workforce itself. A successful marketer today will look very different in 10 years. With the rise of automation and AI-driven tools, the roles, skills and mindsets required for marketing professionals are changing.
Speakers:
9:45 a.m. Small Group Discussion
Consider how the preceding panel insights apply to your work. Through guided questions, uncover key lessons, identify challenges and collaborate with peers to create actionable solutions.
10:30 a.m. Trailblazer Talk
Discover bold stories of reshaping the marketing landscape through unconventional strategies. This engaging interview-style session features Steve Phelps, President of NASCAR, followed by an interactive Q&A.
11:15 a.m. Seizing the Strategic Leadership Opportunity
Explore strategies for leading through disruption, with a focus on building influence across the C-suite, navigating risk and effectively managing change. The discussion will offer insights into developing communication strategies, preparing for the unpredictable and strengthening executive capabilities to drive organizational success during times of technological transformation and market volatility.
Speakers:
12:00 p.m. Small Group Discussion
Consider how the preceding panel insights apply to your work. Through guided questions, uncover key lessons, identify challenges and collaborate with peers to create actionable solutions.
12:30 p.m. Lunch & Networking
1:30 p.m. Turn Insights into Action
In this interactive session, leverage insights from previous discussions to identify opportunities for innovation in your work. Through collaborative exercises and guided discussions, attendees will translate the lessons learned into actionable strategies aimed at fueling innovation and fostering growth within their organization.
2:30 p.m. Conclusion of Event
12 S Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
312-940-3552
We’ve secured an AMA room block at a special rate of $279.00 single/double occupancy per night (excluding taxes and applicable fees which are currently 17.4%, but are subject to change).
Or you can call Reservations at 312-940-3552 and reference Executive Marketer Summit or the Group Code G-MCR0.
The reservation cut-off date is April 18, 2025.
Visit Choose Chicago for additional city and culture information.
Accessibility in Chicago
choosechicago.com/plan-your-trip/accessibility-in-chicago
ADA
The AMA is committed to providing all attendees with equal access to our meetings. If you are an attendee with a disability and require program accommodations, please contact the AMA Support Center at (800) AMA-1150. A member of our staff will ensure that appropriate access arrangements are made. If you have specific disability-related needs for your hotel sleeping room, please be sure to communicate those directly to the hotel when you make your reservation. In an effort to provide the highest quality of service to all attendees, we require that details of all access requests be communicated to our office at least 14 days in advance of the beginning of the meeting.
While we recognize the potential for business collaborations within our network, it is paramount that the Executive Marketer Summit remains a confidential and trusted environment for all participants.
We enforce a stringent non-solicitation policy, prohibiting any form of proactive sales or marketing efforts, as well as solicitation of goods or services intended to generate future business among Executive Marketer Summit attendees. This includes overt, indirect, and implied solicitations, unless expressly invited to do so. Spamming, such as posting repetitive or multiple variations of content, is strictly prohibited.
With limited seats available, we invite CMOs, VPs, SVPs, and EVPs to apply for an opportunity to attend this exclusive gathering of industry leaders dedicated to the vanguard of marketing excellence.
May 12-13, 2025
Chicago, IL at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
HOW ARE INVITE REQUEST FORMS REVIEWED, AND WHAT IS THE EXPECTED RESPONSE TIME?
Our AMA Business Team carefully evaluates Invite Request Forms based on the outlined acceptance criteria.
After your application is assessed, you will receive an email outlining the next steps or providing the reasons for rejection.
If accepted, you will be provided a payment link.
Please note that your spot is not confirmed until payment is received. Given the limited availability, we recommend completing payment promptly.
WHY ARE EXECUTIVE MARKETERS IN ROLES THAT ACTIVELY SELL TO FELLOW MARKERS INELIGIBLE TO ATTEND?
To preserve the purpose and integrity of the event, we prohibit solicitation activities. This policy ensures that attendees can engage in meaningful discussions and establish authentic connections with their peers in a trusted environment.
WHAT ARE THE EVENT POLICIES?
By attending an AMA event, you acknowledge and agree to adhere to the established policies.
© 2024 American Marketing Association. This site content may not be copied, reproduced, or redistributed without the prior written permission of the American Marketing Association or its affiliates.
Priya Krishnan, Chief Digital, and Transformation Officer at Bright Horizons, has a storied background as an entrepreneur who founded India’s leading child care and schooling service provider with more than 150 company-owned, company-operated centers across the country. At Bright Horizons, she leads all client relationships for the US, International M&A, and innovation projects. She is also currently driving a business and technology
transformation within the organization as part of the company’s OneBH vision – to go-to-market as an education and care benefits company. Priya joined Bright Horizons after founding and running KLAY India’s largest high-quality childcare provider. She initially started the business with the intent of enabling women to return to work after childbirth. She won numerous entrepreneurship recognition awards, as her startup venture expanded to 180 company-owned, company-operated centers across the country, staffed with empowered employees taking care of more than 16,000 children. Priya’s company went on to provide high-quality child care services onsite, and worked with varying workplace models to help companies create solutions for their employees. She also founded a not-for-profit school for marginalized children which has been recognized worldwide for its pedagogy and approach to blended learning. Prior to her entrepreneurial stint, Priya had a global career in IT consulting across Singapore, New York, and London, working with companies including Accenture, PwC, Mphasis, EDS, and HP.
Priya holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and has an MBA from London Business School. You can follow Priya on her LinkedIN for updates and her point-of-view.
A sought-after advisor on digital transformation and marketing strategy, David developed foundational business concepts such as “The Customer Decision Journey,” and “Segment-of-One Marketing.” Most recently, he guided Aetna (now part of CVS Health) through becoming a digitally-oriented, customer-centric enterprise.
David has been repeatedly recognized by Forbes as one of the “Most Influential CMOs in the World,” and by AdWeek as one of the “Top 20 Marketing and Technology Executives.” His writing and work has attracted over 1.1 million followers to his LinkedIn blog, and he has delivered dozens of keynote presentations at conferences around the world.
Dr. Marcus Collins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator. He is the former chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy, New York, a marketing professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and the author of the best-selling book, For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want To Be. Marcus is an inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement and a recipient of the Thinkers50 Radar Distinguished Achievement Award for the idea most likely to shape the future of business management. His strategies and creative contributions have led to the launch and success of Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” music festival, and the Brooklyn Nets, among others. Before his advertising tenure, Marcus worked on iTunes + Nike sport music initiatives at Apple and ran digital strategy for Beyoncé. He writes a column for Forbes CMO Network and contributes to business scholarship.
Koen Pauwels is the Associate Dean of Research and Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University and founding General Director of its Digital, Analytics, Technology and Automation (DATA) Initiative. Koen's European positions include Adjunct Professor at BI Norwegian Business School, and Visiting Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. For 4.5 years, he was Principal Research Scientist at Amazon Ads, with brand building and budget allocation recommendations reaching hundreds of thousands of advertisers. Koen received his Ph.D. from UCLA, where he was chosen Top 100 Inspirational Alumnus. After getting tenure at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, he helped build the startup Ozyegin University in Istanbul. Named a worldwide top 2% scientist, and 'The Best Marketing Academic on the Planet', Koen published over 100 articles on marketing effectiveness. This research was awarded by managers (Rethink Retail, Google, WPP and Syntec), academics (O'Dell, Davidson, and Varadarajan) and both (Gary Lilien ISMS-MSI-EMAC Practice Prize). Koen is the incoming editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Research in Marketing, and Associate Editor for the Journal of Marketing, the Journal of Consumer Research, and the Journal of Interactive Marketing. His books include 'Modeling Markets' and 'Advanced Methods for Modeling Markets' for analysts, and ‘Break the Wall: Why and How to Democratize Digital in Your Business’, and ‘It’s Not the Size of the Data – It’s How You Use It: Smarter Marketing with Analytics and Dashboards` for managers.
Dan Moriarty was appointed Chief Marketing Officer of Chicago Fire FC in December 2023. As an experienced marketing executive, he oversees branding, advertising, media, and promotional activities to boost ticket sales, enhance corporate partnerships, and expand awareness of the Club both locally and globally. He also leads initiatives for the Chicago Fire Foundation, Fire Pitch, youth and recreational soccer, and serves as the primary link to Major League Soccer’s marketing department.
Before joining Chicago Fire, Moriarty was Vice President of Marketing for the Chicago Bulls, where he unified brand, digital, and performance marketing teams, launching a strategic framework that grew corporate partnerships and ticket revenue. His earlier roles included Senior Director of Digital for the Bulls, where he modernized digital strategy, and Digital Consultant to the Chicago White Sox, strengthening digital capabilities and cross-departmental collaboration. Moriarty also spent five years at Hyatt Hotels, guiding international digital strategy, and began his career with marketing agencies.
Originally from England, Moriarty holds a B.Sc. in Business Management from the University of East Anglia, along with certifications from Harvard Business School and Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Managemen
Nadya Kohl is an award-winning business leader, domain expert, and seasoned operator with over 25 years of experience in driving top and bottom line business growth by harnessing data, analytics, marketing and technology for premier Media, Retail, Consumer Products, and Technology organizations. She is also a frequent industry speaker and commentator on data-driven digital marketing, customer analytics, privacy compliant identity management, location intelligence, business management, and “women in business” topics.
In addition to her active presence in the high-growth data and technology industries, she also currently serves on the Advisory Boards of early-stage data companies.
Nadya’s entre- and intrapreneurial background highlights her ability to innovate at the intersection of data, technology and consumers – and to develop the next generation of experts. Most recently, Nadya served as Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Data Services/Decision Sciences at Volta Charging. Acquired by Shell [NYSE: SHEL] in 2023, Volta was the industry-leading electric vehicle charging and media company, and a key player in driving toward a clean energy future. As Volta’s first ever Chief Marketing Officer, she designed and delivered a successful commercial marketing growth engine -for multiple vertical markets- from “scratch” for the 10-year-old late stage start up. She also created the company’s first growth-aligned data strategy, developed and launched novel product offerings, and transformed Volta’s Data and Decision Sciences capabilities.
Her leadership delivered strong top line growth, created new data monetization revenue streams, increased brand awareness of the benefits of a carbon-neutral charging and media network, established new client-centric content franchises, retained top talent, and set a foundation for continued growth in key markets.
Prior to joining Volta Charging, Nadya directed Business Development, Data Sales, Channel Partnerships and Marketing at PlaceIQ, the leader in geolocation intelligence. Previous to that, Nadya held multiple positions overseeing corporate strategy, business development, digital platforms and for Experian’s Marketing Services $1B global business, where she co-founded Experian’s global Audience Services platform – a pillar of the digital marketing economy today.
A fluent Spanish speaker, Nadya was the President of the Latin American Business Group and the Co-Chair of the International Business Group during her MBA studies at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She remains actively involved with her alma mater. She earned her BBA in Economics with a minor in Philosophy, cum laude, from Loyola University of Chicago.
A native of Chicago, Nadya has adopted the New York metro area as her current home. She enjoys traveling with her husband and two children, mentoring young professionals, and actively volunteering for organizations focused on poverty alleviation.
Shelley Willingham stands out as a seasoned entrepreneur, founder, and accomplished C-suite executive renowned for her multifaceted business expertise and often likened to a “Swiss Army knife” in the business world. With substantial experience across start-ups and large-scale, enterprise corporations, she’s forged an impressive track record of driving revenue growth, devising innovative business strategies, and fostering inclusive marketing practices and corporate cultures.
She is the Chief Revenue Officer for The Diversity Movement, a Workplace Options company. In this role, she leads the client acquisition strategy and execution while supporting each TDM business unit's development. She focuses on enhancing customer value, building competitive differentiation, and driving revenue and profit growth.
Shelley speaks at various business events and leadership conferences, coaches and consults aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners, and is a frequent on-air contributor to CNBC.
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Laurie Lam is the Chief Brand Officer at e.l.f. Beauty, a multi-brand global portfolio which includes namesake brand e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, Naturium, Well People and Keys Soulcare. She is responsible for strengthening e.l.f.’s branding and setting its strategy for growth across all categories, as well as championing their mission to make the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, face and skin concern.
With nearly 20 years of experience building global brands, she’s an accomplished business leader and dynamic marketer in the beauty industry. Prior to joining e.l.f. Beauty, Laurie was at L’Oréal USA where she has held several leadership positions within the group’s Professional Products Division and Consumer Products Division in the US, France and Asia-Pacific. Her experience spans across Marketing, E-commerce & Digital, Acquisitions & Business Development and Innovation.
Nitin Mathur is a high-impact senior executive specializing in marketing, digital transformation, and technology. With extensive experience across industrial, semiconductor, technology, consumer internet, and eCommerce sectors, he drives sustainable revenue growth by crafting omnichannel customer strategies, leading brand-to-demand marketing, and leveraging customer insights to enhance business performance.
Most recently, Nitin served as Chief Marketing & Digital Transformation Officer at Analog Devices, where he led global marketing, eCommerce, and customer insights, building an industry-leading digital customer experience and launching AI-driven initiatives to accelerate growth. Previously, as Chief Digital Officer at TE Connectivity, he pioneered a new digital business function, developed a differentiated digital customer strategy, and generated hundreds of millions in new revenue. Earlier in his career, he held key leadership roles at Yahoo! and Sapient, driving brand growth, customer engagement, and marketing innovation.
A respected industry thought leader, Nitin serves as an Advisory Board member for startups Zuddl and Seintiv and as a CXO Advisor for Fusion Fund. He has been a keynote speaker, media contributor, and expert commentator for leading outlets, including WSJ, BBC, CNN, and CNBC. A passionate advocate for technology-driven customer experiences, he actively mentors mid-career and C-suite executives in marketing and digital strategy.
Anup is an innovative brand leader with 25+ years of diverse experiences in consulting, marketing, and general management for multinational CPG companies such as PepsiCo, Molson Coors, Constellation brands and SC Johnson as well as the startup space. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer for PLEZi nutrition which is PE backed startup trying to disrupt the kids beverage market with lower sugar, more nutrient dense options for kids. He is responsible for the P&L and strategic delivery of plan to the board and oversees marketing, strategy, finance, operations, and HR.
He has led the growth of multiple iconic billion-dollar brands through consumer driven innovation, digital transformation, award winning integrated marketing campaigns, and flawless go to market execution. He is a collaborative leader who builds high performing teams inspired to win in the marketplace. Anup challenges his team to push creative boundaries by encouraging bold brand action and embracing risk. Passionate about employee engagement and career development, he serves as a coach and mentor to his team, empowering them to create impactful work, while championing the rising generation of brand marketers.
Outside of his professional career, Anup spends his time being an avid outdoorsman– running, biking, basketball, golf, or snowboarding. He is originally from Mendota Heights, Minnesota and still is hoping his Vikings break the curse one of these days. Anup, his wife Seema, and their three daughters, Sienna (15), Aria (13) and Naya (9) reside in Vernon Hills, IL (suburbs of Chicago).
He also serves on the board of MMA North America. Crain’s notable marketing executives of 2021. Campaign Live 40 over 40 recipient. He holds a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA in business from the University of Michigan.
✉️ anupshah77@gmail.com
📞 847-757-8032
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Matt Britton is a leading expert on consumer trends, marketing, and the future of business, with over two decades of experience helping the world’s top brands adapt to an ever-changing landscape. He is the Founder and CEO of Suzy, a cutting-edge consumer insights platform that has raised over $100 million in venture capital and works with leading companies like Coca-Cola, Google, Procter & Gamble, and Nike to provide real-time data for smarter
decision-making.
Before Suzy, Matt was the Founder and CEO of MRY, a pioneering social media and youth marketing agency that grew to become one of the most influential firms of its kind. Under his leadership, MRY was named "Social Media Agency of the Year" by Mashable and worked with global brands such as Visa, Heineken, and Microsoft. The agency was acquired by the Publicis Groupe in 2011, further cementing Matt’s reputation as a trailblazer in the marketing world.
Matt is also a bestselling author and thought leader. His first book, YouthNation, offered a blueprint for understanding the cultural and economic shifts driven by millennials, while his upcoming book, Generation AI, explores the impact of Gen Alpha and artificial intelligence on business, culture, and society. Set to release in
May 2025, Generation AI has already been recognized as essential reading for leaders preparing for the future.
Known for his dynamic speaking style and ability to decode complex trends, Matt has delivered keynote speeches on some of the world’s biggest stages, inspiring audiences with his insights on the extinction of traditional branding, the rise of digital-native consumers, and the future of innovation.
With a career that spans the forefront of marketing, technology, and generational insights, Matt Britton continues to help businesses navigate disruption and thrive in an ever-changing world.
✉️ Harrison@MattBritton.com
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“Our mission is to redefine how brands tell their authentic stories, which we will accomplish by leveraging AI and automation to build engagement, fostering meaningful connections, and delivering measurable results,” said Greg Boone, incoming CEO at Walk West. “As the industry becomes more integrated with AI capabilities, Walk West will be at the forefront of this evolution, ensuring our clients are seen, heard, and cited by humans and machines alike — for maximum results.”
Boone is an expert in Digital Experience with an impressive career building solutions for Fortune 500 companies. His leadership at Blue Acorn iCi, which culminated in a $125M acquisition by Infosys, demonstrates his ability to scale digital operations and deliver commercially successful experiences for brands like Walmart, Charter Communications, NASCAR, and Panera Bread.
Named by NC Tech as tech executive of the year in 2018, the Durham native has made significant contributions to the Triangle’s business community as an investor, board member, and mentor. With Boone at the helm, Walk West is setting a bold course for the future, pioneering AI-driven storytelling and next-gen marketing solutions that elevate brands and drive business success.
In September 2018, Steve Phelps was appointed President of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), only the fifth individual to hold this position since the organization’s founding. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., Phelps oversees all operations, competition and commercial, for the sanctioning body, including the management of 15 racetrack facilities and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) sports car series.
Under Phelps’ leadership, NASCAR has transformed its business and strengthened the sport’s position for long-term growth and success, with a focus on delivering the best motorsports racing in the world, providing outstanding entertainment experiences, and building a globally diverse community of loyal fans.
In 2019, Phelps led NASCAR through the sanctioning body’s landmark merger with International Speedway Corporation (ISC), integrating its operations into one, new, unified company with racetracks across the country. The historic merger helped create an aligned vision for the sport while positioning a now stronger NASCAR for new growth opportunities.
The following year, Phelps guided NASCAR through an unprecedented and challenging season as the industry paved the way for live sports to return in America. NASCAR swiftly implemented COVID-19 safety protocols to become the first sport to return to competition, first to safely welcome back fans and first to complete a full season schedule. All the while, NASCAR stabilized TV ratings at a time when nearly all sports were significantly down.
In June 2020, NASCAR emerged as a leading voice in the national conversation on racial equality and social justice with Phelps rallying the NASCAR industry to reaffirm its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. After leading an emotional moment of listening preceding the race in Atlanta, he led the decision to ban the confederate flag and introduced sweeping DE&I enhancements across the sport – critical efforts that led to a surge of new fans, partners and diverse race team ownership.
With Phelps at the helm, the sanctioning body refocused its priorities to ensure that a best-in-class racing experience is delivered to NASCAR fans on a weekly basis at track, at home or on the go. Through increased collaboration and consensus-building with drivers, race teams, tracks and stakeholders, NASCAR unveiled the sport’s most dynamic new race schedule in 50 years with its exciting 2021 schedules featuring several new venues, markets and track layouts.
In May 2021, NASCAR introduced the Next Gen race car to the global motorsports community – the most technologically advanced car in NASCAR history and a testament to the sport’s ongoing commitment to innovation. The arrival of the Next Gen car marks years of strategic planning and coordinated development, representing the new era of industry collaboration that Phelps is driving across the sport. The Next Gen will make its highly anticipated debut in 2022.
Phelps joined NASCAR as Vice President of Corporate Marketing in 2005. Beginning the following year, he spent 12 years as Chief Marketing Officer and oversaw all marketing functions for the sanctioning body. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in April 2018 before transitioning to his current role as President.
During his time at NASCAR, Phelps has won Adweek’s prestigious Sports Marketing Executive of the Year and was named its Brand Genius Award winner in the “sports” category. In recognition of his leadership elevating the sport through the challenges of 2020, Phelps was named a finalist for Sports Business Journal’s Executive of the Year, with NASCAR likewise named a League of the Year finalist.
Prior to joining NASCAR, Phelps was Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Wasserman Media Group. In 1990, Phelps began a 14-year tenure at the National Football League where he served as Vice President, Corporate Marketing.
A native of Vermont, Phelps resides in Daytona Beach, Florida and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and an MBA from Boston College.
Jessica oversees Strategy and Operations for global marketing across all Hasbro brands, from Peppa Pig, to Transformers, to Play Doh and many more. Leading an international team, she has transformed the go-to-market process at Hasbro to up-level channel effectiveness, creative quality, and support of all lines of business. Prior to this, Jessica led the Entertainment Brand Marketing division at Entertainment One, launching 7 titles in the Kids Top 10 on Netflix in addition to helping grow the licensing business double-digits. Having spent over a decade at Paramount, she leverages her time there as VP of Retail Marketing to understand the full path to purchase and her previous agency experience to keep her curious about emerging brands, media and cultural trends. She’s a mom of two and lives in the greater NYC area.