Position Supports Global Focus and Integrated Marketing Across Komen’s Network
DALLAS – April 4, 2011 – Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, announced today that it has appointed Leslie M. Aun to serve as vice president of marketing and communications.
Aun is a highly respected senior executive with more than 15 years experience leading award-winning marketing and communications for global Fortune 500 companies, start-ups and nonprofit organizations. As vice president of marketing and communications for Komen for the Cure, Aun will oversee the organization’s strategic communications and integrated marketing activities. Her duties will include directing communications for Komen-sponsored events such as the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure®, Susan G. Komen On the Go™, the Ignite the Promise Global Advocate Summit, and a host of other signature Komen programs and initiatives.
Most recently, Aun served as the vice president of public relations for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) where she was responsible for leading communications and campaigns and served as the senior spokesperson for the world’s largest global conservation organization. At WWF, she led operations in more than 100 countries, supporting initiatives on climate change, energy, species conservation, corporate engagement and WWF’s work to preserve the planet’s most important environmental assets.
Before joining forces with Komen, Aun built an award-winning communications team at WWF that fully leveraged traditional and social media to achieve policy, programmatic and fundraising goals. While at WWF, she was the managing director for “Earth Hour,” the largest global environmental event in history, for which she received the Public Relations Society of America's 2010 Silver Anvil Award. Prior to WWF, Aun served as chief communications officer for Special Olympics. Her experience includes leadership roles at top companies such as Sodexo, MCI and Folio Investing. She also serves as an adjunct professor of public relations at Georgetown University.
“Leslie’s passion and accomplishments make her a perfect fit for leading Komen’s global marketing strategies,” said Katrina McGhee, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “As we work to expand our resources and programs throughout the world, we could not be more delighted to bring Leslie on board.”
“It is an honor to join the Susan G. Komen for the Cure family, an organization that for the last 30 years has led the charge in the fight against breast cancer,” said Aun. "Komen has literally transformed the way people think about and experience breast cancer. They’ve led a grassroots movement that engages and empowers millions of people each year to take action, create change and live healthier lives.”
