Change seems to be in the air right now. Best Buy’s former global chief marketing officer
Barry Judge has taken on the role of Chief Marketing Officer for LivingSocial. Judge will look forward to overseeing all marketing responsibilities for the online company, including: online and offline advertising, brand management, social media, and communications.
District-based LivingSocial has unique and diverse offerings each day allowing customers to buy and share the best things to do in local cities. Based in Washington, D.C., LivingSocial now has more than 70 million members around the world. LivingSocial recently made the attempt to distance itself from the daily deal business and Groupon by experimenting with the idea of becoming an entertainment and media brand.
The posting of a net loss of $566 million for 2012’s third quarter after writing down the value of the international companies it has acquired in recent years, and the release of 400 employees in November, including 160 D.C. workers, may be the reason the company is bringing in some new talent.
“Barry is a giant in the field of marketing, and his decision to join our leadership team is a tremendous vote of confidence in our vision and opportunity for success,” said LivingSocial CEO Tim O’Shaughnessy in a recent report. “Barry helped one of the world’s largest retailers build a powerhouse online and mobile presence, and we’re confident he can help us extend our own leadership in the local commerce space. With his experience and strategic insight, Barry will help us reach millions of new consumers and businesses around the world.”
Judge’s thirteen year reign at Best Buy began when he joined the ranks in 1999 to help develop and launch bestbuy.com into a leading online commerce site. In addition, he held multiple senior marketing positions before being named CMO in 2008.
“My career has been spent inventing and reinventing great brands, and LivingSocial has a unique opportunity to build a new industry from scratch by helping millions of local customers discover and share the best things to do in their cities,” Judge said in a statement.
Hopefully Judge will be able to work his marketing magic and assist LivingSocial in becoming a stronger presence in the marketplace.
On a different note, Chad Fowler, who served as LivingSocial’s SVP of technology for two years as a result of LivingSocial acquiring InfoEther, is leaving the company in January to take on a role as CTO of a technology startup in Berlin.
Source: CNBC
