March 25, 2009
Leadership team named for marketing and media
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A new leadership team is in place in Purdue's Office of Marketing and Media. Teri Lucie Thompson, vice president for marketing and media, announced the leadership team and new organizational structure on Tuesday (March 24).Marketing and media oversees the communication of news and information about Purdue to both internal and external audiences in print, photo and video, and via a variety of Internet platforms; branding and advertising; the Purdue Web site; and community partnerships.
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"Our marketing and media operation has been reorganized to provide new services—such as market research, viral marketing, and media relations—and to increase efficiency in all functional areas," Thompson says. "Our area was previously known as university relations, but we think our new name better describes the diverse services provided by this functional group to the university. The move joins talented and experienced staff into collaborative teams that build upon each other's strengths and expertise, allowing marketing and media to deliver a better end product."
No personnel were eliminated due to the reorganization, and staff members were offered an opportunity to express job assignment preferences for professional development purposes.
The leadership team consists of Nancy Hannibal, assistant vice president for strategic marketing and research; Chris Sigurdson, assistant vice president for external relations, Rwitti Roy, senior director of branding and advertising; Mary King, communications director; Julie Rosa, director of publications; Suzanne Shaw, director of creative services; and Martin Sickafoose, director of online experience and emerging technologies.
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As assistant vice president for strategic marketing and research, Hannibal is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic marketing plans to support individual colleges and areas as well as the Purdue brand. Hannibal has 25 years experience working with branding, marketing and product design for companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Tommy Hilfiger and Finish Line. She joined Purdue in 2008 after two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, where she helped a youth group create a sustainable business.
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Sigurdson, assistant vice president for external relations, is responsible for creating and executing a media relations program, and overseeing issues management and Purdue's community relations efforts. He was a television reporter and video producer before joining Purdue's Department of Agricultural Communications as a news writer in 1991. He served as department head from 2004 to 2009. His writing, television features and public information campaigns have won national awards, and Sigurdson has worked with government and industry leaders to enhance their media efforts.
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As senior director of brand and advertising, Roy is responsible for developing the Purdue brand blueprint and ensuring that all advertising and marketing activity is aligned with the university's strategic goals. From India's international advertising industry to the realm of U.S. higher education, her extensive experience includes launching brands, maintaining brand leadership, repositioning brands and redefining markets for multinationals such as PepsiCo and GlaxoSmithKline, and Indian giants such as Tata Steel and ITC Limited. Recently, she has developed the brand strategy for Purdue’s College of Engineering as its director of marketing and communications.
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King, communications director, is responsible for coordinating with internal stakeholders to ensure development of appropriate communication materials. She has a 20-year history working in marketing and communications for Indiana's higher education institutions, including the Indiana University Kokomo campus and Ivy Tech Community College Region Five. In 2002, King joined Purdue and has served in several capacities, most recently for the College of Technology.
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As director of publications, Rosa will supervise college and area magazines as well as the university's broad internal communications. She started with Purdue in 1993 as a news writer, and then became director of periodicals in 2001. Before that she worked at the Lafayette Journal and Courier and as a sports writer in Massachusetts.
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Shaw, director of creative services, will manage video, photography, graphic design, writing and editing for marketing and media. She worked for Verizon Communications on a variety of tasks including process re-engineering to marketing and new product development. Most recently, Shaw honed her marketing communications, branding and strategy expertise as director of marketing for a variety of Chicago area commercial product manufacturers.
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As director of online experience and emerging technologies, Sickafoose is responsible for managing the strategic development of digital and interactive marketing tools, including Web development and social media. From 1995 to 2005, he worked for a variety of design companies, where he focused on multimedia design such as animation, interactive exhibits and Web site design. Since 2005, he has worked as a Web development manager for the College of Engineering.
Thompson was named the vice president for marketing and media in July and started in the position in August.
During the transition, those who have questions about services should call (765) 494-2034 or continue to work with their current contacts. More information about marketing and media is available at https://www.purdue.edu/marketing.
Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert , 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu
Source: Teri Lucie Thompson, 765-494-2082, tlthompson@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: The News Service will continue to be the point of contact for journalist needing assistance. Jeanne Norberg will continue to serve as spokesperson. You can reach both at 765-494-2096.
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