Taco Bell-Ringer: Brian Niccol now Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer
Yum Brands' Taco Bell chain has named Brian Niccol chief marketing and innovation officer, a newly created role, effective October 24. He will be in charge of integrating all marketing, media, brand reputation, consumer insight, food innovation and PR efforts in order to make the brand more relevant through an integrated, consumer-oriented approach. Former CMO David Ovens left the company a couple of months ago to return to Australia.
Niccol was previously general manager at sibling Pizza Hut after serving as that chain’s CMO since 2007 and as VP-strategy starting in 2005. He earlier spent about 10 years at Procter & Gamble Co. in a series of brand-management posts. Next year, according to Yum chairman and CEO David Novak, Taco Bell plans to introduce a product that will "reinvent the taco," as well as additional breakfast-menu items. The chain spent about $275 million in U.S. measured media last year, followed by $73 million during the first half of this year, according to Kantar Media.
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