Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), announced on Thursday that Carol Kennedy has informed of her decision to retire as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, effective 31st December 2020.
Recently announced in a press release, Kennedy, a graduate of Northwestern University, has made her decision to retire from Cboe, a market operator and global trading solutions provider, as its Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. Further, Stacie Fleming, the current Vice President, is being promoted to succeed her in the role, starting in the new year.
A Look Back at Kennedy’s Success
Having begun back in 1993, Kennedy has spent her entire career, a total of twenty-seven years, at Cboe, one of the world's largest Exchange operators. Initially, she joined the company as a Manager of Editorial Services. Then, she advanced through the ranks of the organisation progressing to Director of Media Relations, Director of Corporate Communications and Managing Director of Corporate Communications. Her success in these roles accelerated her progression to Vice President of Corporate Communications where she spent around eleven years.
Then, in 2012, Kennedy rose to Chief Communications Officer where she led Cboe’s worldwide communications team. As part of her role, she crafted and promoted the organisations evolving corporate narrative and value proposition. Additionally, she directed its strategy, product and policy messaging and positioning in the market.
Carol Kennedy, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Cboe Global Markets. Source: LinkedIn.
She reached the peak of her career when she attained the position of Chief Marketing and Communications Officer in 2018. Part of this success can be attributed to the merging and leveraging of the company's Communications and Marketing functions into one effective global team.
During this role, Kennedy paved the way for Cboe’s subsequent IPO, the transformational Acquisition of Bats Global Markets and its designation as an S&P 500 company.
Additionally, she helped Cboe define markets at the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), chairing WFE's Communications Task Force and serving on its Working and Policy Committees.
New Horizons Await Fleming
Cboe Global Markets Chairman, President and CEO, Ed Tilly said: "Over the course of a fantastic career at Cboe, Carol has made indelible contributions to Cboe's brand and culture, and her guidance and communications acumen have been integral to the company's transformation into a leading global market operator. She has masterfully shaped Cboe's proud corporate narrative, and her leadership, sound judgment and expertise have been essential to developing and maintaining Cboe's reputation as an industry leader committed to innovation, superior technology and best-in-class service."
With such an impressive background and so many triumphs left in her wake. It will be quite challenging for Fleming to fill Kennedy’s role. However, since Fleming has served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications, an interim role established in August 2020, it has enabled her to transition the department’s leadership smoothly.
Prior to this promotion, Fleming served as Head of Marketing and Communications for Cboe Europe in London, where she collaborated with senior leadership to develop and execute a creative, effective integrated marketing and communications program to support the European business. Originally, Cboe took her on as part of the acquisition of Bats Global Markets in 2017. There, at Bats Global, she fulfilled various roles with increasing responsibility and oversight since 2010. Located in the headquarters in Chicago, Fleming will oversee Cboe's global marketing and communications.
Tilly added: "Cboe has a deep and talented bench, and I am confident in Stacie Fleming's leadership abilities as her successful track record leading Marketing and Communications in Europe speaks for itself. She is a strong addition to the executive management team, and I look forward to working with her as we continue to position Cboe for success."
