Taco Bell names new CMOTaco Bell names new CMO

IRVINE Calif. Taco Bell Corp. has named David Ovens to succeed Bill Pearce as chief marketing officer.

Ovens, currently CMO for Yum! Restaurants International in Australia and New Zealand, will take over marketing oversight of the 5,600-unit chain on Aug. 6. Until then, CMO duties will be handled by Bob Fulmer, vice president of field marketing.

Pearce left Taco Bell to launch a medical-technology business.

Before joining Yum! Brands Inc., Taco Bell's parent company, Ovens had held marketing positions at Unilever, Kimberly-Clark and Johnson & Johnson.