---
title: "Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Names New Chief Marketing Officer"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/f4649d45-4865-459a-b785-ba552d594862
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20230331_buildabear_workshop_inc_names_new_chief_marketing_officer.html
category: "Marketing"
industry: "Business Services"
segment: "Marketing"
topics: ["Marketing","People"]
published: 2023-03-31T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T00:52:49.279Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1551836022-deb4988cc6c0?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Names New Chief Marketing Officer

**TL;DR:** Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. has named Julia Fitzgerald as its new Chief Marketing Officer, bringing over 20 years of marketing experience. She will lead the company's brand communications, integrated marketing, and public relations efforts.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-03-31. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20230331_buildabear_workshop_inc_names_new_chief_marketing_officer.html).*

## Story

Ms. Fitzgerald brings more than 20 years of experience in creating and implementing marketing strategy, communications and brand development with a proven track record of driving digital transformations, and results. She has held critical marketing roles in the areas of retail, toys, juvenile products, childhood education, and non-profit, with senior level positions at Sylvan Learning, Sears, VTech, Hallmark, and most recently serving as the Chief Marketing Officer at the American Lung Association.

She will lead Build-A-Bear's focus on brand communications, integrated marketing, public relations, and creative services, while integrating the company's cause marketing efforts in conjunction with the Build-A-Bear Foundation, the company's 501(c)3 organization.

Ms. Fitzgerald joins a talented group of driven and seasoned executives. The executive leadership team also includes:

- Jenn Kretchmar, Chief Digital and Merchandising Officer

- Chris Hurt, Chief Operations Officer

- Voin Todorovic, Chief Financial Officer

- Eric Fencl, Chief Administrative Officer

- Roz Johnson, Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer

- Dorrie Krueger, Chief Strategy Officer

- Dara Meath, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer

Separately, also joining the leadership team in a consultative role is Lisa Licht, who will be focused on expanding and driving value for the brand and the company across the areas of entertainment, licensing, corporate partnerships and long-range strategy. Ms. Licht is a high-impact entertainment, licensing and toy industry veteran who is a Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and was most recently the CMO of Live Nation Concerts, and held senior executive positions at Yahoo!, Hasbro, Fox Entertainment and Mattel.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Retail (sector)
- executive appointment (topic)
- Sylvan Learning (company)
- marketing strategy (topic)
- brand development (topic)
- Build-A-Bear Workshop (company)
- Yahoo (company)
- Sears (company)
- Hallmark (company)
- Chris Hurt (person)
- Boston Consulting Group (company)

---
Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20230331_buildabear_workshop_inc_names_new_chief_marketing_officer.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/f4649d45-4865-459a-b785-ba552d594862).