Aurora Toth

About Aurora

Aurora is an energetic, global brand leader, strategist and marketing expert who creates positive category disruption, emotional brand connections and experiences that drive loyalty and connection to community. A collaborative and dynamic executive and communicator who motivates teams and cultivates strong relationships, she formulates vision and effectively integrates across all levels of an organization—internally and externally. A classically trained brand marketer, Aurora is known for brand building and translating analytics into targeted and creative messaging and customer experience to deliver revenue growth.

How Aurora has Helped Businesses Grow

• Delivered incremental revenue and profit developing customer-centric and innovative marketing strategies/communications while ensuring operational excellence at Bluestem Brands, a Top 100 Internet Retailer.
• Transformed the Country Inn & Suites and Park Plaza global brands, driving revenue through digital and traditional channels to franchise partners and corporate stakeholders at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
• Developed consumer insights and strategies for three retail brands at Christopher & Banks Corp. Managed direct to consumer marketing, store promotions, creative strategies and implementation, and the organization’s first CRM program.
• Launched five concepts in 18 months transforming Sam Goody into "The Entertainment Gathering Place" at The Musicland Group.
• Repositioned and revitalized the Media Play big box brand at Best Buy. Drove strategy, retargeting, creative platform and visual identity.
• Increased new store sales 20% YOY and reduced related grand opening expenses by 33% at Supervalu.

Published Works

• COVID-19 POV: Remote Marketing for Portcos

• Focusing Your Sales Force During an Economic Downturn
• Why Now is a Great Time to Build Customer Loyalty – A Guide for CEOs of Mid-Sized Companies
• Supply Chain Savvy
• Pandemic Prowess: A Leadership Playbook for CEOs of Mid-Size Companies During Challenging Times
• No Stakeholder Left Behind: A Quick Communication Guide for CEOs of Mid-Sized Companies to Use Now

Executive Experience

• SVP, Brand Marketing, Bluestem Brands, Inc.
• VP of Global Branding, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
• VP of Marketing, Christopher & Banks Corp.
• VP of Corporate Development/Innovation, VP of Marketing, The Musicland Group, Best Buy
• Director of Brand Management, Best Buy
• Director of Marketing, Supervalu, Inc.
• Brand Management, Procter & Gamble

Clients Served

• Jon Renau, LLC (alternative hair design & manufacturing)
• American Cancer Society (non-profit)
• INGCO International (language services)
• Sous Chef (consumer technology start up)
• ZonePro (B2B product start up)
• Furniture Systems & Cubicles, Inc. (office space planning, manufacturing & design)
• Fuel Rod (consumer electronics)
• United Gilsonite Laboratories UGL (manufacturer paint & coatings)
• At Ease Rentals (eCommerce hospitality)

Education

• MBA, University of Minnesota
• B.A. Zoology, Miami University

References

"Aurora did an excellent, in-depth competitive analysis for FuelRod and helped us assess potential new categories to enter."   

Chi Yu, CEO, Fuel Rod

 

"It was the leadership Aurora provided her direct reports that was not only valuable to each of them as individuals but in pushing the organization in a collaborative direction never experienced during my short tenure. The whole of Jon Renau and myself personally are very grateful to have had Aurora help us navigate what, without her help, would have been a very difficult transition."

Jeremy Moore, President, Jon Renau LLC

 

"Aurora stepped in as our interim CMO to lead the team, identify strategic gaps, and helped us recruit and onboard our permanent CMO."

Dr. Karen Knudsen, CEO, American Cancer Society

Download Aurora's Resume Here