Hauri named CMO of largest Girl Scouts Council

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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:00AM

Chris Hauri, of River Forest, is the new Chief Marketing Officer for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

Hauri will oversee all marketing initiatives for the largest council in the country representing nearly 86,000 girls and 23,000 adult members, in 245 communities in Illinois and Indiana.

Hauri is responsible for planning, developing and directing all of the Council’s branding and strategic marketing efforts to ensure the organization continues to remain relevant to all girls.

“We are thrilled that Chris, an accomplished marketer with a history of notable campaigns for household Fortune 500 brands, is joining our leadership team,” said Maria Wynne, CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. “As a breakthrough thinker in the creative marketing strategy field, Chris is the perfect leader to drive our upcoming 100th Anniversary campaign as well as the future initiatives related to the economic impact of investments in girls, a 21st century imperative for the U.S.”

Remaining relevant to today’s girls is no small feat. Hauri’s first set of priorities focuses on spearheading Reality Check, a movement encouraging all girls to speak up and develop their own voice and take action. Yet another strategy addresses the increased interest from Girl Scout alum to get involved as adults, whether it be through giving, mentorship opportunities or volunteer positions.

“We have so many high-profile women in leadership positions at companies throughout our Council. They have come to us with resounding interest to work with our girls, as living proof that what they’re doing today as Girl Scouts will impact them for years to come — even (and especially) in their professional lives,” said Hauri.

Before being recruited to the Girl Scouts, Hauri was entrenched in creating a new company, Mirror Image, which focuses on “helping women over 50 get to know and like the women in the mirror.”

Prior to founding Mirror Image, Hauri was the founding partner of The Grand Group, a creative marketing agency, and developed many high-profile marketing campaigns. She was committed to giving many new grads an entry into the promotional marketing world working with Old Navy, Kraft, Gatorade, Haagen-Dazs, Crayola and more. She also held creative executive positions at IMPACT (FCB), William A. Robinson and began earlier in her career with Jewel Companies.

Hauri has taught sales promotion, integrated marketing communications and creativity in marketing at a number of local colleges and universities. She has authored Promotional Marketing, a historic look the rise of marketing, and numerous articles.

Hauri earned her bachelor of arts degree in communications from the University of Illinois Urbana. She holds a master’s degree from DePaul University’s School for New Learning.