The John M. Olin School of Business recently hired two people to key positions, but Dorothy Kittner and Karen Branding are no strangers to the University. Both earned degrees from the business school.
Kittner (MBA ’94) joined the school in the newly created role of director of corporate relations.
Branding (EMBA ’03) is associate dean and director of marketing and communications — the department formerly known as external relations.
Kittner has almost 20 years of experience in sales and marketing. Prior to joining the University, Kittner had worked at The Solae Co. since 1994, where her most recent position was marketing and sales effectiveness director. She also worked at Hughes advertising in St. Louis.
Kittner earned a bachelor’s degree in English and history with a minor in journalism from the University of Richmond. Her graduate degree is a master of business administration with an emphasis in marketing.
Kittner says her new job entails developing deeper relationships with corporations so the school and the companies create mutually beneficial synergies.
“I find it exciting that everyone I met with through the interview process is committed to improving Olin’s corporate relationships through a coordinated effort,” Kittner said. “Olin has a lot to offer its current strategic partners, and there are many opportunities we can explore with other potential strategic relationships.”
Branding worked for Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. for 14 years, most recently as corporate vice president for Busch Entertainment Corp. Branding was chair, president and CEO of Busch Creative Services Corp. from 1996-2002.
Branding also worked for Fleishman-Hillard Inc. and the U.S. Department of the Treasury and was a policy analyst in the Executive Office of the President of the United States under President Reagan and President George H.W. Bush.
Branding earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration, cum laude, from Drake University and a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in public policy and public finance from Indiana University. She was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and received the class Emory Award for leadership and scholarship when she graduated from the business school.
“As a proud Olin EMBA alum and as a St. Louis native, I’ve admired Washington University for my entire life,” Branding said. “The prospect of bringing my Fortune 150 marketing and business experience to bear on helping advance this great school — my alma mater — is thrilling.”
Mahendra R. Gupta, Ph.D., dean of the business school, said: “We are delighted to have both Dorothy and Karen on board. Their skills and experience will help strengthen the school at a very strategic time for us. We are pleased to have such accomplished women — two Olin alumnae — joining our team.”