Chili’s Grill & Bar Appoints New Vice President of Marketing — Retail Bum

Chili’s Grill & Bar has hired Jesse Johnson, a Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) veteran, as its new vice president of marketing.

Johnson will focus on developing and executing marketing strategies and bringing the brand to life across multiple touchpoints, including advertising, media, PR, and guest experience.

“I have a deep-rooted love for the Chili’s brand, and I can’t wait to work with our marketing and leadership teams, as well as our Team Members, to elevate Chili’s prominence,” said Johnson. “I’m excited to use my brand strategy and creative background to help Chili’s disrupt the casual dining space.”

Johnson, who brings over 16 years of experience, most recently served as the director of growth, in which he helped drive the growth of W+K’s social arm, Bodega, in Portland, Ore.

During his time at W+K, Johnson managed client relationships and supported the agency’s growth and business development through his campaign work with clients such as Procter & Gamble, Nike Golf and KFC.

In 2018, Ad Age recognized Johnson’s efforts and named him “Account Director of the Year.” Ad Age also named KFC’s campaign “Return of Colonel Sanders” the “Campaign of the Year.”

Johnson is also credited with leading the development of P&G’s globally acclaimed “Proud Sponsor of Moms” Olympic campaign for the London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, which earned an Emmy, Gold Effie and six Gold Lions.

“As we look to be more commercially aggressive, Jesse’s expertise and passion for building culturally relevant brands will be a driving force in putting Chili’s back in the cultural zeitgeist,” said George Felix, Chili’s chief marketing officer. “What gets me even more excited is the fact that he’s a servant leader, has a passion for coaching, and my belief that he will be a great fit and addition to our ChiliHead culture.”

Photo credit: Chili’s Grill & Bar

Originally published at https://retailbum.com on January 18, 2023.