SAN FRANCISCO: Tom Becktold, SVP of marketing at Business Wire, is leaving the press-release-distribution company after 26 years to provide senior management consulting in the b-to-b space.
His last day at the company will be Friday. Business Wire has not identified a replacement yet, but Becktold said it is looking internally and externally for candidates.
Business Wire president Gregg Castano will oversee the marketing function to ensure continuity in the interim.
"Since joining the company, I have been fortunate to be able to do everything from entry-level to strategic planning, sales, product development, running marketing, helping the company expand globally, and walking the company through [Berkshire Hathaway’s acquisition of it in 2006]," Becktold said. "But this is a good time for my professional development cycle to leave the company and do my own thing."
He joined Business Wire in 1988 as an editor, later holding the titles of account executive, district manager, regional manager, national director of marketing projects and events, and VP of marketing. Becktold stepped into his most recent position of SVP of marketing in December 2006.
"Business Wire’s marketing department has changed tremendously over the past 26 years to very much a measurement, digital-focused, and results-oriented effort, where the company is trying to target specific audiences for specific outcomes," said Becktold. "My replacement is going to put [his or her] own stamp on the marketing department; I imagine there will be some changes."
Castano said Business Wire has an "extremely strong and stable" global marketing team in place that will continue to execute the company’s marketing strategy after Becktold’s departure.
"We wish him well in his post-Business Wire life," he added.
In terms of his future consulting work, Becktold said he wants to help both emerging and established companies enter new b-to-b market spaces. He plans to provide strategic plan development, marketing and communications advice, and audience identification and outreach consulting, as well as helping companies tie their work back to sales by measuring efforts against their goals.
