Dive Brief:
- NFL has ended its search for a new CMO with the hire of former Pepsi CEO Dawn Hudson.
- The pro-football league is currently in damage control mode after two key players, Baltimore Raven's Ray Rice and Minnesota Viking's Adrian Peterson, became involved in domestic violence charges.
- Hudson has prior experience in the sports world—including work with the NFL while at Pepsi and as a board member for the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
Dive Insight:
Hudson has a tough road ahead of her to try and mend the NFL's image. The league has had it's share of controversy in the past and has seemed to recover — but the latest PR nightmare doesn't seem to be going away. Brands are dropping endorsements for teams and the league left and right—P&G, Anheuser-Busch, and Radisson Hotels are just a few of the brands stepping away from their deals with the NFL after the reports surfaced. It will be telling to see how a new female CMO handles the crisis.
