• by Tanya Gazdik , July 3, 2023

Audi of America CMO Tara Rush has decided to depart the company after four years, according to a spokesperson.

The move was also announced to employees in an internal email. 

“Tara was a highly valued member of Audi of America’s executive leadership team during a transformative time within our industry and we are grateful for her many contributions to the business,” Daniel Weissland, president of Audi of America, says in a statement obtained by MediaPost. “We wish her all the best on her future endeavors.”

Rush could not be reached for comment by press time.

Leading marketing at the Volkswagen Group’s luxury subsidiary on an interim basis will be Jessica Thor, Audi of America’s director for brand strategy and Maggie Mohiuddin, director of brand channel marketing, Weissland said via the internal memo.

Her departure comes as the automaker prepares to launch a slew of new vehicles in the United States. Anticipated for 2024 is the launch the A5 sedan and Avant wagon, which used to carry the A4 moniker. Also due in 2024 is the new A5 Sportback and new A7.

Worldwide, Audi is set to launch 20 new models, including more than 10 battery-electric vehicles, by 2025 in what CEO Markus Duesmann calls “the biggest product initiative” in the German automaker’s history.

Audi of America reported today that its new-car sales are up 30% year over year. 

"With record consumer demand for our BEV portfolio, a strong premium market and better supply conditions, Audi of America is on track to have one of our best years ever," Weissland says in a release. 

The company changed lead U.S. creative agencies under Rush, hiring Ogilvy in May 2022 to replace Venables Bell & Partners, which was AOR for 15 years. 

Rush had an interesting rise through Audi, starting as chief communications officer in April 2019, a position she held for two years before shifting to CMO.

Her LinkedIn profile has been updated to appear as if she may be seeking  another marketing position, not necessarily in the automotive sector.  

Before Audi, she spent six years at Heineken in communications positions. Prior to that, she was at Emanate PR where her duties included opening the company’s Los Angeles office. There, she led a variety of accounts across multiple industries including Hilton, SKYY portfolio brands, Heinz, Mattel, Nissan, Verizon, Office Depot, Savings.com and various lines of business for Bank of America.

She describes herself as a “global marketing and communications leader with a prominent track record of leading high-impact, integrated campaigns and strategic business initiatives” who is “experienced in corporate strategy and communications, brand communications, brand advocacy, marketing, reputation management, crisis communications, public affairs, employee and community engagement, experiential event strategy and media relations across multiple industries including F&B, CPG, automotive, tech, travel, lifestyle and entertainment.”