Jeff Charney

JEFF CHARNEY is Progressive’s Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In this role, he leads strategic integrated marketing efforts for the $19 billion company including national advertising, internal/external communications, market insights, new/social media digital content initiatives, consumer research, social responsibility, and public relations.

Prior to joining Progressive, Jeff was Senior Vice President and CMO for Aflac, based in Columbus, Ga. He was also SVP, CMO at multi-media retailer, QVC, based in Westchester, Pa., and was also SVP of marketing for HomeStore.com (now Move.com), based in California. He has won more than 50 marketing awards, received White House recognition and his creative work has been featured in both the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals.

He was named as "Brand Genius/"Marketer of the Year" by Adweek Magazine for 2011. Additionally, he was honored as one of the nation's "Top 100 Creative People in Business" (#35) in the 2012 edition of Fast Company Magazine as well as being named to the 2012 "Creativity 50" by Advertising Age Magazine recognizing the nation's top-50 creative minds. In 2014, he received CMO Club "Leadership Award" as voted on by his industry marketing peers. In 2015, PR News named him one of the "Top 40" (#11) Marketing innovators. Also, in 2105, the Cleveland Plain Dealer named him one of the region's "People to Watch" honoring the region's most innovative leaders.

In addition, as a sign of marketing relevance, Progressive's brand icon "Flo" won the 2012 Madison Avenue 'Walk of Fame' award honoring the nation's top icons as well being named Entertainment Weekly's "Top Icon" for 2011. The marketing character also won Advertising Age Magazine's 2012 "Top Ten Female Icons of All Time" and Adweek Magazine's "Top Five Female Icons."

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina (summa cum laude) and his graduate degree (highest honors) from Ohio State University. In 2012, he received the "Distinguished Alumni" award from the University of South Carolina, honoring his outstanding business achievements.