Kelly Lockwood Primus was appointed Chief Executive Officer in December of 2020 after successfully transitioning the merger of Leading Women into Leading NOW’s stable of brands. In her role as CEO, Kelly oversees strategy, research development and client relationship management to help Leading NOW’s clients reach their global diversity goals. A frequent speaker on the topics of Cultural Dynamics in the Workplace, Gender Dynamics, and Leadership, Kelly has been invited to deliver keynotes, plenary sessions, and workshops, and has moderated panel discussions for multiple industry events.
Prior to taking the role of CEO at Leading NOW, Kelly was CEO & President for Leading Women, joining that organization in 2013. Before joining Leading Women, Kelly was a member of the executive team for WFF, a national non-profit women’s leadership organization. As Vice President for Marketing & Communications, Kelly was instrumental in returning the organization to prominence in the foodservice industry as the authority for women’s leadership development and drove participation in the organization’s live and virtual events to “sell-out” status.
Prior to working in leadership development organizations, Kelly was a member of the executive team at Primo Water, a publicly held CPG company, in the role of Vice President, Marketing & Communications. Recruited pre-IPO, Kelly was challenged with articulating the brand promise, creating the brand communication strategy and instituting integrated marketing campaigns to drive retailer and consumer brand preference. Within less than a year, the organization went public, had acquired multiple new retail partners including Walmart, and the company’s products were featured in leading trade publications as a product category to watch.
A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Kelly also participated in Executive Leadership Programs at Boston College and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.