ATLANTA -- Wendy Clark, who last month left her role as senior vice president of advertising at AT&T, is set to join The Coca-Cola Co. as head of integrated marketing communications and capabilities, reporting to Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Joseph Tripodi, the beverage giant announced internally today, according to a report by Ad Age. Clark succeeds Mark Greatrex, who is handing over the title to focus on his duties as senior vice president of still beverages, a role he took on at the start of 2008.
In her new position, effective September 15, Clark will be charged with "[image-nocss] continuing to build and deliver marketing capabilities across brands, geographies and customers, including the use of traditional and new marketing channels to help transform our thinking to true integrated marketing communications," Tripodi said in the memo to employees obtained by the publication. "She will lead our global work in creative excellence, design, interactive marketing, marketing capabilities, marketing productivity, media, retail and licensing and worldwide sports and entertainment."
It's likely she also will be tasked with helping Coke slash costs of $500 million in the next three years, much of that related to marketing, said the report.
"It's a big umbrella of departments and responsibilities, everything from digital to sponsorships to creative excellence, so I think we'll just let her get onboard and take it from there," Kelly Brooks, group director-marketing communications for Coca-Cola, told Ad Age.
Widely considered one of the most powerful marketing executives in the country, Clark is credited with the rebranding of AT&T and with helping the telecommunications giant navigate a slew of complex acquisitions in recent years, said the report.
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