Expert in Branding and Innovation, Professor Carmen Abril’s career has been largely forged at Pepsico Beverages where she held the position of Marketing Vice President for Spain and Greece. She was also member of the Pepsico Beverages International Marketing Committee. Carmen holds a PhD in Economic and Business Science “cum laude” from the Complutense University. She also holds a Master in Economy and Business Administration from IESE, and a degree in Mathematics from the Complutense University, where she also works as an associate professor in the Marketing Department. Current research focus is around factors influencing innovation success and brand building .
In the IE Professor Abril is responsible for different marketing courses in the International MBA, in the Executive Master in Commercial Management and in the Master in Marketing Management. She has also led some “Marketing in China” seminars in Shanghai and “Innovation management and creativity seminar “ in Milan. Visiting professor at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing; Amsterdam University, Fudan University, Shanghai and La Sapienza University Roma.
She is founder and partner of “marketingthinking” company and has been involved in several key projects around branding and innovation development in Europe and Latinamerica.
Carmen was a pioneer in the use of innovation as a competitive strategy in the soft drinks market: “In Pepsico, I led an aggressive and successful strategy based on innovation and diversification, which included the development of new products both at local and global level, as well as strategic alliances with other companies in order to compete more effectively in new segments and markets. This resulted in a sustainable growth of sales and share, and in a remarkable improvement in the brand´s key performance indicators”, explains professor Abril who combines academic and corporate skills .
Professor Abril began her professional carreer in Gillette and later in Unilever, where she was part of the “European Personal Care Innovation Center”, as the responsible for deodorant and perfume markets.
During her career, Carmen has received numerous awards, including “Marketeer of the Year” from “Advertising Age” magazine and the “Premio al Mejor Anunciante” ( Best Advertiser Award) from the Spanish Advertising Agencies Association.
Furthermore, she received two “Grand Prix” , five golden awards, five silver and three bronce at the Spanish Advertising Festival in San Sebastián, and two bronce “lions” at the Cannes Advertising Festival. She has also been awarded with the “Pepsico Internacional Marketing Award “ as well as with the “Pepsico High Performance Leadership and Innovation Award”.

EDUCATION
• PhD Economics and Business Science “cum laude” , Complutense University (Madrid)
• MBA, IESE (Barcelona, University of Navarra, and University of California at Davis)
• BA in Mathematics, Complutense University (Madrid)

CORPORATE BACKGROUND

• “Marketingthinking” founder and partner
• Marketing Vice President Pepsico Beverages Spain and Greece
• Marketing Director Pepsico Spain
• Member of the Pepsico International Executive Marketing Committe
• Marketing Manager Unilever Spain
• Member of the Innovation Center Unilever
• Marketing department Gillette, Madrid

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

• Associate Professor IE Business School
- Visiting professor Beijing "Chinese Academy of Social Sciences", Amsterdam University, Fudan University, Shanghai and La Sapienza University Roma.
o Marketing professor: International MBA ,Executive Master in Commercial Management and Master in Marketing Management .
o “Innovation Management and Creativity” Madrid/Milano
o “Marketing in China” Course, Shanghai Fudam University
o “International Executive Strategic Branding Seminar “ Madrid and Ecuador, Cuenca
• Associate professor Complutense University
• Board member of the “International Store Brand Forum” Complutense University
• Member of the editorial board of “Innovative Marketing”

Honors and Awards

• “Marketeer of the Year” by Advertising Age
• Best Advertiser Award in the Spanish National Advertising Festival
• Two “Gran Prix”, 5 Gold , 5 Silver and 3 bronze in San Sebastian Festival and two Bronze Lyons in Cannes
• Pepsico International Marketing Award
• Pepsico High Performance Leadership and Innovation award
• Member of the American Marketing Association