World Business Chicago (WBC) today announced the appointment of Wendi Taylor Nations as Chief Marketing Officer. Nations will be responsible for managing the strategic communications and media relations for WBC, Chicago’s premier economic and job growth organization.

A well-known industry veteran, Nations has a rich history in the Chicago marketing community and brings more than 25 years of diverse experience in both the public and private sectors. In this newly-created role, Nations will coordinate a variety of strategic WBC imperatives from Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, to technology advancement (ChicagoNEXT) and international development (Chicago Sister Cities International), as well as business recruitment, expansion and retention. Nations’ team will work together with partner organizations to keep Chicago at the forefront of the world’s economy.

“What stood out about Wendi was her diverse experience, from being able to navigate complex political environments to leading global corporate marketing teams,” said World Business Chicago President & CEO Jeff Malehorn. “In addition, Wendi’s true affinity for our great city shows in everything she does. This will no doubt help her lead a dynamic brand re-positioning campaign that will amplify WBC’s mission and create greater visibility for the Mayor’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs.”

Nations joins WBC from FleishmanHillard (FH), where she assembled and led the team that won the Get Covered Illinois marketing business, the largest win in FH/Chicago’s history. Previously, Nations spent a decade at Porter Novelli as healthcare practice director and managing director of the Chicago office. She also spent three years at Hill & Knowlton in Chicago, where she re-established the firm’s Midwest health practice across a variety of industry categories. Nations has also served as chief marketing officer for Heidrick & Struggles and marketing director for Advocate Health Care.

“It’s extremely rewarding to take years of hard work and experience and use it to tell the world about Chicago’s highly engaged business community, very pro-business mayor, unmatched access to domestic and global markets, and incredible talent pool,” added Nations. “When you can blend business expertise with a job that you love and an outstanding ‘product’ to sell – that’s the best possible combination to achieve success.”

Nations is a long-time Chicago resident who received her Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University. She is a member of the Kellogg Alumni Council and on the Board of Tree House Humane Society, a Chicago animal organization dedicated to creating and maintaining humane communities.