• by Larissa Faw , August 1, 2014

Interbrand will soon have a new leader. This September, Beth Viner takes over as CEO of Interbrand New York & San Francisco. She succeeds Josh Feldmeth, who was recently named CEO of Interbrand North America.

Viner will be based in New York and report directly to Feldmeth. She will oversee approximately 250 employees located across Interbrand’s New York and San Francisco offices.

“Appointing a CEO for our New York and San Francisco offices was one of the highest strategic priorities for Interbrand, so we searched broadly for someone who could serve as a strategic advisor to our c-suite partners, unlock creative talent, lead discussions around post-digital technology and drive product, service and experience innovation,” said Feldmeth. “Beth’s intelligence, commitment to people/culture and her passion for disruptive innovation made her the perfect person to oversee those two offices.”

The hire signals Interbrand’s ongoing commitment to deepen its capabilities around product & service innovation, experience design and technology. "Our clients' business are shifting dramatically, many are being disrupted by technology and new entrants," says Feldmeth. "At the same time, the role of our CMO clients is expanding. All of this creates some very clear needs around product innovation and experience design. With her background, she has the opportunity to further deepen our capabilities in this area, building an organization that really has never existed before - one that can use the power of brands to truly shape companies, products and experiences that people love."

Viner comes to Interbrand from IDEO, the award-winning innovation and design firm. She first joined IDEO in early 2006 and, most recently, served as Managing Director of its New York office, as well as Associate Partner. During her eight years at IDEO, Viner was instrumental in turning IDEO into a leading provider of digital products and innovative experiences and oversaw relationships with clients such as NBC News, Marriott, Weight Watchers, Comcast, WebMD, Bank of America, West Elm, Deloitte, MasterCard, The Ritz-Carlton and The Rockefeller Foundation.

“I am delighted to join Interbrand as CEO of its New York and San Francisco offices,” said Viner. “Interbrand is uniquely positioned to support organizations and the dynamic evolution of their brands. I look forward to delivering products, services and experiences that people truly love.”

Viner joins a group of other recent hires at Interbrand, all specializing in strategy, experience and innovation. "Beth is a great fit with Interbrand because she sees the world the same way we do - that people and culture come first," says Feldmeth.