Cathy Calhoun is president of the Chicago office of Weber Shandwick and co-president of the firm’s Global Consumer practice.
Cathy has been with the firm for 14 years and has extensive experience in branding as well as category marketing. She oversees some of the largest integrated marketing programs in the country with specific expertise in food and nutrition, health and beauty and household products.
She develops the strategy and creative execution for new product launches, brand repositionings and consumer education campaigns for blue-chip clients like Unilever, the got milk?/milk mustache campaign, Mars, Inc., Allstate and Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
During her time with the agency she has launched more than 200 milk mustache celebrity ads, worked with Harley-Davidson to celebrate three major anniversaries (the 90th, 95th and 100th!) and helped introduce new products ranging from Mega M&Ms to the Electrolux Icon line of high-end kitchen appliances.
Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Cathy was marketing communications director for Wilson Sporting Goods. She also completed a five-year stint with the Chicago office of Hill and Knowlton, where she worked on public relations programs for Kellogg’s, Fisher-Price Toys and World Book, Inc.
Cathy was chosen as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ “Forty Under Forty” and was named one of the “Forty PR Stars Under Forty” by PR Week magazine. Under her leadership the Chicago office of Weber Shandwick was named the fourth best place to work in the city by Chicago Magazine. She has received numerous awards for the public relations programs she has overseen.
Her community service includes positions on the boards of Namaste Charter School and Ravenswood Community Services.
Cathy earned a B.F.A. in journalism from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.