May 19, 2011 | Events

Starbucks and Yum! Execs to Visit Medill May 23

Two of the biggest names in consumer marketing communications join in discussion

By Wendy Leopold

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Two of the biggest names in consumer marketing communications will discuss their own success and the success of their brands Monday, May 23, as part of Medill’s Gertrude and G.D. Crain Jr. Lecture Series at Northwestern University.

“Conversations with Friends: Starbucks Senior Vice President of Marketing Terry Davenport and Yum! Brands Chief Public Affairs Officer Jonathan Blum” will begin at 4 p.m. in the McCormick Tribune Center Forum, 1870 Campus Drive, on the University’s Evanston campus. The program is free and open to the public.

Davenport and Blum will share insights and lessons about how they -- and how their respective companies -- became what they are today.

“We’re lucky to have Terry, a Medill graduate, and Jonathan, one of Terry’s former colleagues, join us,” said Medill Associate Dean and IMC Department Chair Tom Collinger. “It’s rare to have two senior marketing communications executives from two of the top brands in the world who happen to know each other come together to talk with our students.”

Davenport joined Starbucks in 2006 and is now senior vice president of marketing. Promoted in 2008 when Starbucks was struggling financially, Davenport was named to lead a team responsible for Starbucks’ overall marketing plan, product development and consumer insights. He also was charged with unifying the Starbucks brand to the consumer.

Blum is senior vice president and chief public affairs officer for Yum! Brands, Inc., the world’s largest restaurant company. With nearly 36,000 restaurants and 1.3 million employees in more than 100 countries, Yum! is the parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food. Blum, who reports to the chairman and chief executive officer, serves on the Yum! team setting overall corporate strategy.

The Crain Lecture Series regularly brings journalists, newsmakers and others discussing current events and the news business to Northwestern’s Evanston campus.

For more information on this or other Crain Lectures and discussions, call Jessica Gilbert at (847) 467-4130 or visit http://www.medill.northwestern.edu.