KFC promotes Kate Wall to marketing director

KFC has announced that Kate Wall is to take up the role of marketing director for UK and Ireland.

Wall has been with the business for almost five years, most recently in the position of strategy and innovation director. She joined KFC UK and Ireland as its head of advertising & retail in 2019, before taking on her current role in 2021.

Taking on the new role 1 December, she will work under the recently appointed chief marketing officer, Monica Pool, who returned to the brand this autumn after nearly three years at  Taco Bell – also part of the Yum! stable of brands – replacing Jack Hinchcliffe who left to join its The Habit Burger chain in the US in February.

Wall replaces Richard Hall, who left in September.

During her tenure at KFC, Wall has worked on revitalising KFC’s value proposition. In her current role she has worked on the development of a three-year innovation pipeline around both product and proposition.

‘You can feel the creativity’: KFC on building a ‘brand for the nation’

Prior to joining KFC in 2019 Wall worked at Mondelēz International in  a number of roles including playing a key role in the repositioning of Cadbury Dairy Milk.

I am confident that together, we will launch our much-loved brand into its defining next chapter

Kate Wall, incoming marketing director, KFC UK&I

Of the appointment, Pool says: “Kate’s promotion to marketing director is a testament to her authentic leadership and ability to motivate teams through her infectious energy and incredible commercial acumen. We’re excited for this next chapter for our marketing team with Kate pushing boundaries, and unleashing unparalleled experiences that will not just connect but will captivate our customers like never before.”

The KFC brand has attracted praise for its brand building and management in recent years, winning Marketing Week’s Brand of the Year in 2021, acknowledgement for a turnaround for the brand in the UK and Ireland, transforming from the “fading old man” then CMO now managing director Meghan Farren described it as being in the mid 2010s.

KFC-owner hails ‘balanced’ premium and value offer as earnings climb

Wall says: “I am deeply passionate about this brand and am excited to push this amazing business forward; ensuring KFC is rooted at the heart of British and Irish culture, through driving relevance, building on our successes, and bringing new experiences to our loyal fans and new customers alike.

“We have the most brilliant team of marketers – full of bold creativity and explosive insights – alongside dedicated agency partners, and I am confident that together, we will launch our much-loved brand into its defining next chapter.”