Shannon Watkins

Shannon Watkins is currently the CMO at the Jordan Brand. Prior to her current role at the Jordan Brand, she was the SVP, CBO, & CMO of Aflac. And prior to SVP, CBO, CMO role at Aflac, she was Aflac’s vice president of Brand and Creative Services. While at Aflac as the chief brand and marketing officer, Shannon was responsible for leading all aspects of enterprise brand strategy and marketing execution including advertising, media, social, experiential marketing, sponsorships, and the Aflac Studio (in-house agency).

Prior to joining Aflac, Shannon served in various brand and management capacities at companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods, ConAgra Foods and Procter & Gamble.

With more than 20 years of advertising experience and expertise, Shannon is a recognized brand leader and has received a number of prestigious industry awards including a Clio and a Cannes Bronze Lion. Other honors she has received include distinction as a ‘Top Women in Brand Marketing Class of 2021’ by Brand Innovators and the Brand Leaders award from Indiana University.

Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, where she served on the board of the alumni association. She also serves as co-founder and board member of The A Pledge; as a board advisor for the Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing for the Association of National Advertisers; on the Dean’s Council at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University; and she is a member of the CNEXT Leaders Forum, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc.