Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) and the Utah Jazz today announced the appointment of Caroline Klein in the newly created position of Chief Communications Officer, effective Aug. 1.
Her responsibilities include strategic communications in public relations, community relations and broadcasting along with coordination of large-scale marketing initiatives through all the company’s platforms. Other duties involve government relations and crisis communications as a public-facing representative of the Jazz in the community.
“Caroline will be a tremendous addition to our executive team with her skills and experiences. She will work as a highly visible representative of the Smith Entertainment Group with business leaders, community partners, diverse media outlets, and local government officials,” said Jim Olson, SEG and Utah Jazz president. “She has a gift in storytelling that inspires action and builds communities. Her leadership ability will be invaluable in elevating the impact of the Jazz.”
With more than 15 years of strategic communications experience on domestic and international levels, Klein joins the SEG executive team after 10 years with the Preferred Hotel Group in Newport Beach, Calif., which manages and operates six travel and hospitality brands including Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Culminating in the CCO role, Klein built and evolved the company’s public relations, social media, and corporate communications functions, orchestrating multiple extensive global marketing communications campaigns and serving as a key executive on new brand launches and pivotal rebrandings.
Previously, Klein worked at several PR agencies in New York City and Chicago, specializing in travel and hospitality. She holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University.