• Ad Age, Thursday, August 13, 2009 10:31 AM

Kerri Martin, who attracted a lot of attention in the marketing departments at BMW Mini and Volkswagen, will be the CMO of Coda Automotive, which is planning to launch its first electric vehicle, the Coda sedan, next year. She will oversee its go-to-market and media strategies, a Coda spokeswoman says.

Martin managed Harley-Davidson's branded-apparel program before moving to BMW Motorcycles in 1997. She was marketing-communications manager at BMW Mini from 2000 through early 2005, where she and Crispin, Porter & Bogusky shepherded the unique U.S. launch of the Mini, including the concept of "motoring." She then became director-brand innovation at Volkswagen.

Martin moved VW's advertising account to Crispin without a review and the Miami agency "created some of the most breakthrough, talked-about car work" during her tenure with the German automaker, writes Jean Halliday, including the "Safety happens" and "Get to know your fast" campaign. Martin has been a consultant since leaving VW.

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