Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. announced that May Russell has joined the company as its chief digital officer. In this newly established role, Russell will lead the company’s digital strategy and digital transformation, as well as enterprise information technology.
“May is an extremely talented executive with experience successfully leading enterprise-wide digital initiatives, and I am so pleased to welcome her to Fortune Brands,” says Nicholas Fink, CEO, Fortune Brands. “Our ability to attract an executive of her caliber speaks to the tremendous potential we have for digital transformation within our portfolio and throughout our business.”
Russell joins Fortune Brands from Ford Motor Co., where she most recently served as chief technology officer of Ford Commercial Solutions. In that role, she led an organization of over 2,000 digital professionals and had global responsibility for the Ford and Lincoln apps, the digital consumer interface for all vehicles, and the digitization of fleet management. During her almost 20-year tenure at Ford, Russell served in several other roles, including co-leading Digital and Agile transformation. Russell joined Ford after spending several years at Ernst and Young.
The company recently announced an initiative to build digital excellence as the next core competency within its Fortune Brands Advantage capabilities. Through this strategy, the company expects to enhance brand and innovation, accelerate growth and improve operating efficiency by bolstering its digital footprint and positioning itself to succeed in an increasingly digital environment.
"Our world is rapidly evolving, and the digitalization of business is gathering pace,” says Fink. “As an industry leader, and as a company that disrupts and innovates, we are embracing these changes and intend to make digital excellence a true competitive advantage for Fortune Brands. May's experience and vision makes her a great fit to drive this initiative."
