Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores has named Patrick McLean as its first-ever chief marketing officer, according to a Monday press release.
McLean will be responsible for aligning Love’s marketing efforts with the company’s strategic priorities and values, according to the press release. He will lead a team of nearly 300 in the marketing and customer experience departments and will report directly to Love’s President Shane Wharton.
“Strategic investments in marketing and customer experience will elevate this already strong brand and unlock further growth for the business,” McLean said in a statement.
McLean brings more than 30 years of experience across a variety of industries to Love’s. He most recently was head of his own marketing consultancy, according to his LinkedIn bio. In that role, he offered strategic marketing consulting and interim or fractional CMO support.
Before that, he served as senior vice president and CMO for drug store chain Walgreens, where he helmed the launch of the "My Walgreens" customer engagement and loyalty platform, according to the announcement. He has also served as CMO for TD Bank, vice president of digital brand strategy for Capital One bank, and in various marketing roles with telecom companies Verizon and Bell Canada.
At Love’s, McLean has succeeded Vice President of Marketing Dave Frankenfield, who is retiring after 28 years with the Oklahoma City-based retailer. Frankenfield will stay with the company through the end of the year to help ensure a smooth transition.
“Patrick’s B2B and B2C experience in multiple industries, and with some of the largest and most successful retail brands in the world, stood out to us as we searched for a leader who could take our efforts to the next level and fit into our award-winning culture,” said Wharton in the press release.
