Lauren M. Scott joins PMA as Chief Marketing Officer

Will lead strategic marketing, demand creation efforts

Newark, Del. - To boost demand for fresh fruits, vegetables and floral, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has named a lead staffer for its strategic marketing efforts: Lauren M. Scott. Scott has 20 years’ experience in consumer goods marketing, innovation, and brand management and joined PMA Oct. 13, 2016 as its chief marketing officer. “Earlier this year, the PMA leadership established marketing as a strategic priority to drive the concept of ‘marketing as a discipline’ throughout the industry. Lauren will lead that in two ways,” said PMA chair-elect John Oxford, who headed the PMA Marketing Task Force that recommended this path for the association. “First, she will continue to execute on common industry demand creation activities like eat brighter!™, FNV and Fresh Takes. Second, she will lead the effort to provide our members with education and tools around consumption-driving marketing,” said Oxford, president and CEO of L&M. “We are thrilled to have Lauren on board,” said PMA President Cathy Burns. “Lauren will work with our members to build even greater demand for their products by implementing recommendations from PMA’s Marketing Task Force.” Scott, a self-described foodie, has worked as a marketing executive in beverage companies, including Diageo and PepsiCo. She has led marketing, global brand and category strategy; innovation concepts; and brand activation and development. Reporting to Burns, she will be responsible for global strategic leadership to increase consumer demand for fresh produce and floral products through association and industry marketing initiatives. She will also establish and work with a volunteer Marketing Committee to guide strategy. “The opportunity to serve such a dynamic industry with incredible growth potential excites me,” Scott said. “Bringing both traditional and innovative marketing strategies to drive PMA members’ product sales to new heights is an opportunity I embrace. I look forward to working with PMA members and staff, and I’m particularly excited to meet members at Fresh Summit in Orlando.”