CMO Smart 2020

Janice Tennant is the Chief Marketing Officer at Merrell. Janice joined Merrell in June 2020 with more than 18 years of global brand-building experience, most recently serving as Chief Marketing Officer for Cat Footwear, a brand within the Wolverine Worldwide portfolio and global footwear licensee of Caterpillar Inc. Janice helped lead the brand through a successful repositioning. These efforts contributed to all-time record revenue in 2019 through coordinated global product launches, elevated integrated marketing campaigns, and a strong pivot to a digital-direct offense. Prior Cat Footwear, Janice was a Director of Marketing at Kimberly-Clark and PepsiCo, gaining extensive experience across brand management, digital marketing, new product development, customer marketing, and multi-cultural marketing. Janice holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and is a graduate of Queen’s University in Canada with a degree in Physical and Health Education, where she developed her passion for encouraging people of all abilities to participate in physical activity to help them live their best lives. Her passion for the outdoors started on her first camping trip with York Youth Connection Camp in Toronto and continues today as she and her husband pass this tradition on to their two sons.

Scott Ablin joined Keeper Security in October 2018 as the company’s Chief Marketing Officer. Scott is responsible for the company’s consumer and B2B marketing strategy, demand generation, marketing communications and branding, and product marketing. Prior to Keeper, Scott was Vice President of Marketing at healthcare revenue cycle technology provider, ZirMed (now Waystar), which was acquired by Bain Capital in late 2017. Prior to ZirMed, Scott was Vice President of Marketing at patient engagement solution provider, Emmi (now part of Wolters Kluwer). Prior to Emmi, Scott was Senior Vice President of Marketing at Aldera (now part of Evolent Health) a provider of core administrative systems for healthcare payers and administrators. Before Aldera, Scott served in senior-level marketing roles including as Director of Marketing & Strategy for global health services company CIGNA’s Great Lakes Region. Scott holds a dual BA degree in Journalism and Communications Studies from The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, and a MS degree with Highest Distinction in Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. He served as president of the Chicago Chapter of the American Marketing Association from 2012-13. Most importantly, Scott is the proud dad to two children, Riley and Blake.

Melanie Huet joined SSB in January 2019 as EVP, Chief Marketing Officer. Melanie directs the Marketing, Innovation, Insights and Trade Marketing divisions focused on delivering breakthrough innovation, strengthening the house of brands and growing portfolio revenue. In just one-year Melanie has helped lead a transformation from a sales led organization into a consumer led organization identifying top consumer needs and launching products designed to motivate and delight consumers. Under Melanie’s guidance the Serta team delivered one of its strongest advertising campaigns yet that recently was shortlisted for two “One Show” awards including the sought after Creative Effectiveness award. Similarly the Beautyrest team delivered one of its best advertising campaigns yet after establishing a new partnership with top NYC agency, Badger & Winters. Melanie led the reinvention of the 150 year old Simmons brand in 2020 relaunching it as a Gen Z, Young Millennial brand focused on capturing your first purchase. Melanie has extensive Marketing experience across multiple categories and disciplines within consumer packaged goods. She has a track record for building high performing teams, developing long term strategies and consistently architecting and executing turnarounds on declining mature businesses. Prior, Melanie was Vice President of Marketing, Beverages & Snack Nuts at Kraft Heinz Corporation, where she was responsible for a $4B portfolio including iconic brands like Planters, Capri Sun, Kool-Aid and Maxwell House. She worked for several years at Kimberly-Clark and Unilever achieving similar results and continuing to ascend into larger roles. Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and German from the University of St. Thomas and a Master of Business Administration from the William E. Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester.