Hilton appointed Kellyn Smith Kenny to the role of SVP and chief marketing officer. Effective Jan. 29, 2018, Kenny will oversee the enterprise marketing strategy for hospitality company and its portfolio of 14 brands. She will also lead a team delivering creative marketing programs focusing on building meaningful relationships with guests.
"The iconic Hilton brand is already recognized globally as the gold standard for hospitality," Jon Witter, Hilton's chief customer officer, said in a statement. "With Kellyn as our new marketing leader, we are excited to embark on the next chapter of our journey to build stronger direct relationships with our guests."
Kenny brings to Hilton cross-industry and strategic marketing expertise developed in consumer, competitive and service-focused executive roles. As VP, marketing at Uber, she led interdisciplinary marketing for the company's most significant markets in the U.S. and Canada. As SVP, marketing at Capital One, Kenny led marketing and brand strategy for the consumer banking division. While at Microsoft, she oversaw consumer-facing and retail marketing efforts in various store, consumer and B2B roles.
"Hilton's global brand portfolio and strong sense of purpose truly sets the company apart," Kenny said in a statement. "I am looking forward to being part of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the success of the business, and am proud to be joining a team of industry-leading marketing professionals. Together, we will bring to life the exceptional experiences being delivered around the world on behalf of Hilton's owners and guests."
Kenny holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, and a BA in economics from Colgate University. She will be based in Hilton's global headquarters in McLean, Va., and report directly to Jon Witter.