Nicole Portwood joined PepsiCo in September 2018 as vicepresident of marketing, Mountain Dew, Energy, and Flavors, leading 360° brand marketing strategyacross the portfolio. Nicole joined PepsiCo from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, whereshe led brand marketing for 9 years in Austin, TX. In this role she oversaw allbrand strategy and development including: positioning, content, social media,public relations, events, media, creative, engagement, packaging, retailactivation, research, and more. Nicole was recently recognized as AdAge’s Marketerof the Year 2017. Prior to her role at Tito’s, she lived in New York and workedon the agency side for brands such as Jack Daniels, Grey Goose, and BombaySapphire. She is a recovering restaurant owner, having created and then soldSpartan Pizza, a thriving shop on Austin’s 6th Street. Nicolestudied theatre and philosophy at Southern Methodist University. She and herhusband have two children, and live in the beautiful River Towns area ofWestchester, NY.