Linda Boff, Chief Marketing Officer at GE, was today recognized as U.S. Chief Digital Officer of the Year 2016 by the CDO Club, the world’s largest community of C-suite digital and data leaders.
Boff is being recognized for her leadership in transforming the GE brand as the company becomes a ‘Digital Industrial’ company.
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She is not the first non-CDO to gain the recognition: The first-ever CDO of the Year award was given in February 2013 to Teddy Goff, who served as Digital Director at Obama for America in both 2008 and 2012, and now serves on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 U.S. Presidential election campaign.
Boff was announced as the recipient of the award after her featured presentation at the NYC CDO Summit, presented by Centric Digital, on April 27, 2016, at Thomson Reuters in New York City.
GE CMO Linda Boff and CDO Club founder David Mathison during the presentation of the 2016 U.S. CDO of the Year Award
“Today we recognize Linda’s critical role in evolving the GE brand by showing the importance of digital leadership in the marketing function,” remarked David Mathison, CEO of the CDO Club and CDO Summit.
“Her work is a testament to how traditional businesses can succeed and thrive by putting digital at the center of their business and marketing strategy,” added Brian Manning, President & Chief Digital Officer at Centric Digital, the summit’s presenting sponsor.
GE’s brand has stood for technology and innovation for 124 years, and its innovative marketing is critical — especially as it aligns with the company’s digital transformation.
The company has pioneered many first-to-market digital activations — experimenting on new platforms and using cutting-edge technologies in ways that are unexpected and easy to share and that generate attention.
GE was the first brand on Vine, and among the first brands on Twitter, Instagram, Medium, Giphy, Poncho, MikMak, Meerkat, and Periscope. The GE Podcast “The Message” hit #1 on iTunes last fall.
The company also began experimenting with Virtual Reality (VR) in 2014, and in 2015 it partnered with The New York Times on its first VR storytelling activation.
CNBC Reporter Mary Thompson and GE CMO Linda Boff during fireside chat at the NYC CDO Summit 2016
Boff was promoted to CMO in September 2015 after previously serving for four years as Executive Director, Global Digital Marketing, where she played a key role in GE’s foray into digital marketing and content creation.
Before GE, Boff served as CMO of iVillage Properties, part of NBC Universal. She joined GE in early 2004 with 18 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and communications, including senior roles at Citigroup, the American Museum of Natural History, and Porter Novelli.
She is a 2014 AWNY Changing the Game Award winner, B2B magazine’s 2012 Digital Marketer of Year, and 2012 Media Maven. She is on the board of Partnership with Children, a NYC-based organization that provides social support to some 5,000 hard-to-reach schoolchildren. Boff is also on the Ad Council’s Executive Committee and is a member of Digital 50.
Boff earned a BA in Political Science and Psychology from Union College.
Previous CDO of the Year award winners include Adam Brotman, Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks Coffee Company; Rachael S. Haot, former Chief Digital Officer of New York City and New York State; Patrick Hoffstetter, Chief Digital Officer at Renault; Tanya Cordrey, former Chief Digital Officer at Guardian News and Media; Mike Bracken, former Chief Digital Officer at U.K.’s Government Digital Service; and Rebekah Horne, Chief Digital Officer at National Rugby League.
– By Andrzej Sienko
See Select NYC Speakers:
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Brian Manning |
Linda Boff |
Phil Bienert |
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Anne Myong |
Brian Dearth |
Catherine Devine |
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Jeff Reid |
Lauren Lockwood |
Kevin Bandy |
See All NYC Speakers Here >
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The CDO Summit is the “must-attend” digital event of the year. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 CDO Summits received stellar endorsements from dozens of speakers and attendees alike:
“Sometimes a conference comes along that hits the trifecta – hot topic, high-caliber attendees, and stellar location. The first Chief Digital Officer Summit reached that mark with ease, and I look forward to attending the next one.”
Eric Hellweg
Managing Director, Digital Strategy/Editorial DirectorHarvard Business Review
“Congratulations and thanks to David Mathison for spotting the need for community and collaboration in the growing Chief Digital Officer space, and for having the wherewithal, network, and organizational talent to put together such a top-notch event in its inaugural year. Next year’s summit should be even more of a must-do for anyone working digital at senior levels in all kinds of businesses.”
Teddy Goff
Digital DirectorPresident Barack Obama 2008 and 2012
“David, here’s a handy C^3 test for conference value: Did I learn at least three new perspectives? Check. Did I meet at least three interesting people? Check. Did I take back at least three relevant pieces of news I can use? Check. Flying colors for the Chief Digital Officer Summit 2013! Thank you so much, and yes, I’d be very pleased to participate next year!”
Perry Hewitt
Chief Digital OfficerHarvard University
“Congratulations to David Mathison and his team on the simply amazing job they did on the inaugural Chief Digital Officer Summit. Probably the most informative, insightful, on target, entertaining, collaborative, thought provoking, and inspiring conferences I have ever attended. I learned more about my business and what I do in the past 12 hours than I have from any research white paper, articles or blogs over the past 12 months. The range of topics and speakers assembled were incredibly diverse, informative, collaborative, and most of all, inspiring. It has invigorated me to be the best possible professional CDO I can be. David Mathison’s skills as a moderator were impeccable, bringing out the best of the speakers and keeping the conversation flowing. His intimate and insightful knowledge of this space is only out-shined by his humility and graciousness. Kudos to David and his organizing team.”
Mark Keys
Vice President, Client SolutionsMoving Interactive
