FAMU Alumna Named Progressive Insurance Chief Marketing Officer

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna Remi Kent will join Progressive Insurance as the chief marketing officer beginning Nov. 1, the company recently announced.

Kent, who earned a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration from FAMU, has spent the previous eight years at 3M. For the last year, she served as senior vice president and global chief marketing officer of the Consumer Business Group at 3M. In that capacity, Kent led e-commerce, media, insights and analytics, and integrated marketing globally. At Progressive, she will succeed Jeff Charney, who is retiring, and will report directly to Tricia Griffith, Progressive president and chief executive officer. Kent will also serve on the Progressive executive leadership team.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Remi to the Progressive family. With more than 20 years of marketing experience, she has a proven track record of working with and leading well-known global brands, and I’m confident she’s the right person to continue to move our brand forward,” said Griffith. “Her creativity and data-driven decision making aligns with ours and I know she’ll be a great fit for our culture. I look forward to having Remi as the newest member of my executive leadership team.”

Founded in 1937, Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes. The Mayfield Village, Ohio, based company is the third largest auto insurer in the country.

“I’m honored to join such a well-recognized brand,” said Kent. “I look forward to building on Progressive’s success and continuing to drive growth while leading such an accomplished marketing team. They’ve built an impressive suite of campaigns and characters with incredible momentum in the market, with talented teams and agencies who continue to innovate in this highly competitive category. After getting to know Progressive, I’m so impressed with the culture they’ve created under Tricia’s and Jeff’s leadership – not only fast-paced and creative, but welcoming, respectful and true to its values.”

During her career, Kent has received numerous accolades for her leadership in business and marketing, including the likes of Ad Age Leading Women and 40 under 40, Twin Cities Women in Business Award, 100 Most Influential Black Leaders, Comparably 50, and Influential Marketing Leaders Changing the Industry. She is passionate about building high performance teams and is a true leader for diversity and inclusion. To bring that passion to life, she is a founding member of the Black Executive CMO Alliance, where she is working to create opportunity, access, and equality for the current and next generation of Black marketing leaders.