Volkswagen global chief marketing officer Nelly Kennedy is to leave the German car manufacturer despite being in the midst of a major media review and ahead of the key Super Bowl week.
According to Campaign US, Kennedy will return to her native US at her own request, having only taken up the role a year ago. Volkswagen confirmed that a successor will be announced at a later date.
Kennedy initially took on the iconic car firm’s CMO position in February last year, replacing the outgoing Jochen Spengpiehl, who transferred to lead Volkswagen’s marketing operations in the Chinese market.
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Previously, Kennedy held a range of senior marketing positions for both Google and Adidas, working across the US, Dutch and German markets.
The development comes at tense moment for the firm, which is part way through a global media review that began in June after a nine-month hiatus. Omnicom’s PHD is the incumbent.
Volkswagen has so far not commented on how Kennedy’s departure could affect the review. The brand is also set to air a big budget Super Bowl ad later this week, celebrating 75 years of business in the US.
