Lori Marcus is an independent board director & board advisor and the founder of Courtyard Connections. Courtyard Connections is an advisory firm focused on marketing and leadership in consumer goods, retail, food service and consumer technology. Lori is a keynote speaker who focuses on helping women reach their full potential. Her signature talk is entitled “Train for the career AND life you DESIRE”. Ms. Marcus also uses her passion for fitness and wellness in her executive mentoring/coaching with her signature “Everything I need to know, I learned at yoga” framework.
Lori is currently working with the Harvard Business School’s Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator as the chair of the Direct-to-Patient Initiative. She is charged with bringing together best in class direct-to-consumer companies with various disease-based cancer organizations. This is done to advance precision medicine efforts via direct-to-patient engagement.
Lori Marcus recently served as Interim Global Chief Marketing Officer for Peloton Cycle in NYC. Prior to joining Peloton, she was EVP, Chief Global Brand and Product Officer at Keurig Green Mountain. With more than 30 years of broad-based marketing and general management experience, Lori was responsible for global brand and product management for the Keurig system of innovative coffee brewers and beverages. During her tenure at Keurig Green Mountain, she also led the company’s global marketing efforts and all aspects of e-commerce, digital/social media, CRM, marketing insights, and graphic design.
Previously, Ms. Marcus was the SVP, Chief Marketing Officer of The Children’s PlaceRetail Stores. Prior to that, she spent 24 years with PepsiCo in marketing & general management positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in her appointment as Senior Vice President, Marketing Activation for PepsiCo Beverages, North America. Her previous PepsiCo experience included responsibility for global strategic initiatives, product innovation, customer marketing, brand marketing, and strategy in their beverage and foodservice divisions.
Ms. Marcus currently serves as chairman of the board of DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), a private equity-backed leader in consumer DNA testing services, and a board director for Talalay Global, a privately held maker of premium bedding. She is on the Board of Directors for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) where she serves as vice chairman of the board and leader of the Resource Development Committee. Lori is a board director of SHARE Cancer Support and serves on their communications committee. She is also an advisor to Meural, a VC-backed digital art technology, and a board advisor to Carrington Farms, a natural and organic food company.
Ms. Marcus earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Lori attributes much of her success to a life-long commitment to nutrition, wellness and fitness. She is an avid runner and enjoys yoga, cycle spinning, and hiking.