Coca-Cola marketing exec joins SWFL retailer in senior VP role

Women’s retailer Chico’ FAS has named former Coca-Cola executive Leana Less senior vice president of marketing.

Less will lead marketing efforts for all three Fort Myers-based Chico's FAS brands and outlets — Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma — as well as drive customer acquisition, spearhead the Chico's, WHBM and Soma loyalty programs and all other end-to-end marketing responsibilities at Chico's FAS, according to a statement.

Less most recently was head of consumer marketing for Estée Lauder subsidiary Aveda, where she helped drive significant e-commerce growth, contributing to the brand's overall expansion efforts, the release states. Prior to that role, she served was vice president of global connections and media at Coca-Cola Co., where she crafted a five-year transformation using digital as an enabler for growth. She also managed global agency relationships across the corporation, including 700 agency partners spanning 200 countries.