United Way Suncoast Names New Chief Marketing Officer

TAMPA BAY, FL — United Way Suncoast announced the appointment of James Gillen as Chief Marketing Officer. As the CMO, Gillen is responsible for creating the strategic vision for United Way Suncoast’s overall marketing and communications function.

Gillen will steward the organization’s brand reputation in the communities served by United Way Suncoast and their partners.

Joining United Way Suncoast in February 2020 as the senior vice president of communications and marketing, Gillen led an extensive brand relaunch with a strong focus on communicating the tremendous impact of the work that United Way Suncoast and its partners do in the community.

As the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic quickly began to spread across the United States and specifically the Tampa Bay area, Gillen led the communications efforts to connect residents in United Way Suncoast’s five-county footprint to important resources available through United Way and its strategic community partners.

United Way Suncoast quickly established a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund that raised more than $1.9 million of which 100 percent was distributed directly back to the community. This made the communications efforts to the community critically important as many residents in crisis needed information regarding where they could find the help for themselves and their families.

“I am thrilled to promote Jim to be United Way Suncoast’s chief marketing officer. Over the past year Jim has transformed our community communications and this could not have come at a better time. Jim led the team in ensuring our community had access and information about critical services during the pandemic. He also led our re-branding efforts. We are grateful for the impact Jim’s leadership has had both at United Way Suncoast and throughout our region," said Jessica Muroff, CEO of United Way Suncoast.

“I am excited to be taking on the chief marketing officer role for United Way Suncoast at a time when its combination of convening power and community leadership is so critically important to our community," Gillen said. "Through our partnerships and collaborative action, United Way Suncoast transforms lives. Celebrating nearly a century of community leadership, we have continuously evolved to make the greatest community impact and provide opportunities for everyone to experience the 'freedom to rise,' and I am incredibly grateful to be a part of such an important mission."