The Fashion Institute of Technology, part of the State University of New York (SUNY), has appointed Kimberly Fasting-Berg the college’s first chief marketing officer.
She will report to FIT president Jason Schupbach and will serve as a member of the president’s cabinet, beginning Monday.
A graduate of SUNY’s University of Albany, Fasting-Berg brings experience leading brands across fashion, media, design, the arts and culture. Most recently she was executive vice president, CMO at WME Fashion, where she led marketing and business strategy development for the Fashion Group, including IMG Models, Art + Commerce, The Wall Group, and IMG Fashion Events. Earlier, she was CMO of Kravet, the home furnishings brand, and spent more than a decade at Condé Nast, where she held senior leadership roles, including head of marketing for Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Glamour and Allure. Her work helped extend these brands and their partners across digital platforms and major cultural properties, including GQ’s Men of the Year, Met Gala, Vanity Fair’s Oscar Party, and Vogue’s Forces of Fashion.
At FIT, she will oversee enterprise-wide marketing, branding and communications to strengthen the school’s global reputation, support enrollment and student success, and generate new partnerships and opportunities for growth.
The inaugural CMO role underscores the college’s commitment to advancing the goal of FIT Future/Forward, a strategic initiative launched by Schupbach to establish FIT as the premier laboratory for creative and creative business careers for the 21st century. Schupbach assumed the presidency of FIT in January, succeeding Dr. Joyce F. Brown, who led the institution for nearly three decades.
“Kim’s expertise in leading the evolution of world-class brands will be instrumental in shaping the future of FIT,” said Schupbach. “As an innovator with an exceptional reputation and as a SUNY alum – Kim is ideally positioned to build on FIT’s momentum to expand the college’s impact across the global creative industries.”
“I am thrilled to be joining FIT as the inaugural CMO,” said Fasting-Berg. “FIT sits at the intersection of creativity, technology, business and culture – exactly where the future of the global economy is heading. From a marketing standpoint, the college is at a once-in-a generation inflection point and President Schupbach’s extraordinary vision of FIT as a laboratory for creative careers will serve the next generation of talent with a phenomenal roster of programs, rankings and alumni that rival any institution in the world.”
Robin Burns-McNeill, chair of the FIT Board of Trustees, said, “Kim’s vast experience as a brand builder and storyteller, combined with her understanding of the value of an affordable public education, will be a tremendous asset to FIT. Her appointment strengthens the college’s ability to connect its mission and distinctive strengths with students, alumni, industry and creative communities around the world.”
According to FIT, Fasting-Berg was selected following a nationwide search that attracted a highly competitive pool of candidates. She is expected to leverage her experience to drive growth and innovation working with students, alumni and industry partners, stimulating cultural relevance and awareness across the higher education space. Her appointment comes at a key moment as FIT responds to significant change in higher education and the creative economy to expand opportunities for the next generation of creative leaders.
