CMO Diego Scotti reportedly leaving Verizon

Yet another executive is reportedly leaving Verizon. Chief Marketing Officer Diego Scotti, who’s been with the company over eight years, is leaving to focus on “building a new chapter in his career” and will explore new challenges, according to published reports.

Verizon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chief Strategy Officer and EVP Rima Qureshi will lead Verizon’s marketing team on an interim basis, according to an internal memo cited by the Wall Street Journal.

Chief Communications Officer Jim Gerace, who was reporting to Scotti, will now report directly to Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, the report said. Rose Kirk, who served as chief corporate social responsibility officer and reported to Scotti, will join Verizon’s human resources department.

Scotti will assist in transitioning his team to ensure a strong second quarter and will continue to report to Vestberg until his departure later this year, Adweek reported.

It’s another in a long line of executive changes at Verizon.  

In March, Sowmyanarayan Sampath was named CEO of the Verizon Consumer Group, a position that Vestberg had been filling himself for several months. Sampath previously led the Verizon Business Group; he is scheduled to present at the SVB MoffettNathanson conference tomorrow.

The consumer division especially has been under pressure as Verizon has been steadily losing customers. Ronan Dunne led the group for five years from 2016 to 2021 until he was replaced in January 2022 by Manon Brouillette, who lasted less than a year. She departed in December 2022.

Kyle Malady, who led Global Networks & Technology, in March was appointed CEO of the Verizon Business Group, and Joe Russo took over Malady’s role as chief network officer.

CFO Matt Ellis is also leaving the company on May 1 to “pursue other interests.”

Adweek noted that Scotti helped Verizon build its marketing prowess and made a push to highlight first responders in its Super Bowl marketing efforts. He also guided Verizon through moments of crisis, such as the pandemic.