When Deirdre Findlay joined Conde Nast as its new Global CMO in January, her initial plans involved mapping out the company’s digital future and building a long-term revenue strategy. But just weeks into her arrival, it became clear that COVID-19 was about to cause global shutdowns and sheltering in place. 

Liberty Mutual in early 2019 debuted a new mascot duo to help get their advertising messages out: LiMu Emu (yes, an actual emu) and Doug (a human man), a pair who the company said are passionate about saving people from overpaying for insurance.Created by the brand’s agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, the campaign was the latest in a series of more humorous and light-hearted ads that Liberty Mutual was using to stand out in a crowded category. But when COVID-19 struck earlier this year and Liberty Mutual needed to communicate more serious messaging around a customer relief refund, Chief Marketing Officer Jenna Lebel put the duo on hold to strike the right tone.

One of the biggest events every year in Boston is the Boston Marathon, held every April. But due to COVID-19, 2020 will go down as the first year the race, which starts in suburban Hopkinton and ends on Boylston St. in Boston, was canceled in its 124-year history. (The race will be held virtually through a series of events in the second week of September.)

As Citi’s Chief Marketing Officer - Global Consumer, Jennifer Breithaupt has helped the financial services company weather a tumultuous 2020 that has included a global pandemic (which first impacted the company’s Asian branch in January), societal unrest in the fight for racial justice and a growing list of local and international crises.

If there’s one common thread that many marketers have shared during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s how planning cycles that used to take 18 months or more to complete have rapidly shrunk to 18 days - if not less - to meet the urgent needs of consumers and businesses hardest hit by lockdown conditions and loss of employment.

As an eyecare provider with hundreds of stores nationwide, Pearle Vision has been less affected than most retail businesses in recent months in terms of being able to keep its doors open. But as COVID-19 cases continue to resurge in many states nationwide, the brand’s commitment to trust and safety has never been greater.