East Michigan News

Central Michigan University’s University Communications team has merged its integrated marketing and digital strategy teams. John Veilleux, chief marketing officer and vice president of University Communications, said the move will ensure a more engaging and consistent digital experience for website visitors and provide better support for campus partners.

“The cmich.edu website is the university’s largest marketing tool and one of the most vital ways we share information with our constituents,” Veilleux said. “Bringing these two teams together ensures we are able to provide the best customer service to our internal partners while also delivering the most engaging user experience to site visitors.”

Veilleux stated that Abby Dean, formerly executive director of integrated marketing, accepted leadership of the newly formed team. Dean was promoted to the role of deputy chief marketing officer in late May and immediately began integrating the two teams. As part of this transition, Veilleux also promoted Lauren Sawyer to Senior Associate Director of Web and Digital Strategy to provide additional guidance and support for digital strategists, web architects, and designers.

Following this change, University Communications will now have three functional areas: Integrated Marketing and Digital Strategy, Strategic Communications, and Visual Media.

“In addition to leading our unit’s largest team, Abby will continue to work with campus leaders and the full University Communications team to create a fully comprehensive, university-wide approach to marketing and communications,” Veilleux added.

Dean joined the University Communications team in February 2019 as director of integrated marketing. Over recent years, she led the development and launch of the university’s “We do” brand, including its Emmy-nominated awareness campaign. The University Communications team received 15 recognitions for its marketing campaigns this year, including national and international honors such as Communicator Awards, Telly Awards, Stevie Awards, Hermes Creative Awards, AVA Digital Awards, MarCom Awards, and Viddy Awards.