KFC UK & Ireland Appoints Monica Pool as Chief Marketing Officer

KFC UK & Ireland has announced Monica Pool, marketing director at Taco Bell UK & Europe, as its new chief marketing officer. Monica will be taking over from Jenny Packwood – KFC’s chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer - who has been interim CMO since the departure of Jack Hinchliffe earlier this year.

Monica is no stranger to the business, having started her journey with KFC South Africa in 2009, where she was integral in driving step-change advertising through innovative creative work. In 2012, she joined KFC UK&I’s Marketing team in Innovation, before being promoted to marketing director. Her tenure had a monumental impact across the business in the UK and Ireland, helping to shape the creative vision for KFC and strengthening brand transformation.

Having joined Taco Bell in 2020, Monica has grown the brand health of the business, increasing media and marketing effectiveness to bolster sales, while dealing with a range of complex issues facing the QSR sector. She has also championed the franchisee model, working collaboratively with business owners to help grow and support their businesses and those in developing markets. 

Speaking of her appointment, Monica Pool, chief marketing officer at KFC UK&I said, “I’m honoured to be re-joining KFC UK&I to partner with our incredible teams, franchisees and restaurant leaders. It’s an exciting time as we continue our journey to evolve the brand experience to deliver industry-leading results, all while making a positive impact on the communities we serve. KFC has always been a great brand and will continue to be. We’re lucky to have a brilliant team of fun, passionate, smart marketers who have delivered some truly powerful and award-winning work in recent years. I’m excited to help continue the legacy of this iconic brand alongside its inspiring people.”

Meghan Farren, general manager at KFC UK&I said, “The entire KFC team in the UK & Ireland are thrilled to announce Monica's appointment as our new CMO. A hugely talented marketer with a wealth of experience in our business, she’s the perfect person to lead our brand and marketing function. She’s an inspiring leader and a passionate and purposeful developer of people and teams. Monica's energy, positivity and creativity will be hugely valuable in today's challenging operating environment. I am excited to partner with her as we lead KFC through its next chapter, and I have no doubt that she will drive positive change across the business on her return.”

Monica will re-join KFC UK&I as chief marketing officer in early autumn 2023.