SAVAGE, Md. — ZIPS Franchising LLC recently announced that Mary Ann Donaghy has joined the organization as chief marketing and customer experience officer. Previously a member of the ZIPS Board of Directors, she brings three decades of consumer marketing leadership to the organization as it continues to grow its revenues and expand its customer base and franchisees.
Donaghy brings her experience of developing and implementing integrated marketing plans in a range of industries and has a passion for strengthening brands through an exceptional customer experience, the company states.
She joined the ZIPS Board of Directors a year ago while also operating Insights & Impact, a consultancy providing multiple services to clients in higher education, senior living, trade associations, real estate development and management, and government contracting.
Prior to launching Insights & Impact, she was chief marketing & communications officer for the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), and vice president of marketing, serving as chief marketing officer, for the University of Maryland Global Campus, where she managed an internal team of 60 marketing professionals, a $30M budget, and multiple marketing services agencies.
Donaghy also led marketing with The Bozzuto Group, a large multi-family real estate development and management company, and was executive director, marketing strategy and new product development for AOL. She launched her marketing career working on Procter & Gamble brands as a marketing director with Grey Advertising and then joined H.J. Heinz, leading the international sales and marketing of StarKist Tuna.
ZIPS states that Donaghy is a data-driven marketing leader with a particular focus on consumer insights and business analytics to drive brand building and business development, which has contributed to significant quantitative results in her marketing leadership roles. Her expertise in this area will be of critical importance to ZIPS, the company says, as the brand continues to adapt to the changing work habits and apparel choices of an evolving population.
“ZIPS has come back stronger than ever since the challenges of 2020, and we are committed to continuing our growth through innovation, adopting best practices, continuing to build our brand, and focusing on data-driven decision making,” says Bob Barry, ZIPS’ president and CEO. “Mary Ann brings an incredible marketing background and proven leadership to the organization as we focus on these key areas to fuel our success in the years ahead, and we are thrilled to add her vast experience in marketing as well as her perspective as a former Board member to our team.”
“From my time serving on the Board, I saw the contribution I could make to elevating the ZIPS’ marketing and customer experience efforts. I have a deep enthusiasm for the brand and the company and am thrilled to be joining ZIPS at such a pivotal time,” Donaghy says.
A Cincinnati native, Donaghy is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in French Studies and a minor in International Business. She and her college-aged son reside in Annapolis, Md.
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