Kellogg names new North American CMO

by David Brown

The Kellogg Company has named Gail Horwood its chief marketing officer, North America. Horwood joined the company in 2017 from Johnson & Johnson, where she spent six years as VP, worldwide digital strategy.

Horwood spent the past year as Kellogg’s senior VP of integrated marketing, leading the packaged foods company’s integrated marketing efforts across multiple disciplines, including media, CRM, design, shopper marketing and digital.

Horwood announced her appointment via Twitter on Wednesday, while The Drum reported that the chief marketing officer position is a new one for the company.

Her appointment follows the December departure of chief growth officer Clive Sirkin, who spent three years with the company after arriving from Kimberly-Clark. He was replaced by Monica McGurk, who arrived at the company in July as chief revenue and e-commerce officer according to an Ad Age report.

Kellogg is looking to rejuvenate its business using its “Deploy for Growth” strategy. Under president and CEO Steven Cahillane, the company is looking to grow on its traditional strength as a breakfast foods company with a focus on other meal occasions, as well as placing an emphasis on creating “world-class” marketing and “perfect service” for customers.

It is also continuing to explore the sale of non-core business units including cookies (which includes the Keebler brand) and fruit snacks.

David Brown