Lisa Cochrane

A seasoned business and marketing leader with a broad and deep range of executive and board experience, Lisa Cochrane joined Medill IMC as faculty advisor and adjunct lecturer for the Immersion Quarter program in the fall of 2019.

Drawing from a successful career in marketing, brand-building and new products, advertising and corporate management, spanning insurance (B2C and B2B) and global ad agency experience with retail, durables, quick service restaurants and consumer packaged goods, Cochrane chose to “rewire” (versus retire) from Allstate Insurance Corporation in 2015 to focus on board service, consulting and teaching.

Cochrane has a proven track record leading through calm and turbulent waters, building best-in-class organizations and strong relationships, setting a clear vision, leading comprehensive strategy and driving results with executional excellence. She is known for courageously invoking thought leadership and change to deliver improved performance.

From 2000-2015, Cochrane served as senior vice president of marketing for Allstate Corporation, the largest publicly- held personal lines insurer in the U.S. At Allstate, she led brand strategy, marketing planning, advertising, direct and digital, media, promotions, sponsorships, consumer public relations, customer communications and creative services. During her tenure, she was highly recognized for her creativity and leadership of Allstate’s campaigns that challenged convention, winning numerous awards including 16 Cannes Lions (five in 2015 for “Mayhem” and Hispanic “Mala Suerte” digital/social) and 17 Effie Awards for proven business effectiveness through marketing. Cochrane has also held senior positions with advertising agencies (13 years at Ogilvy & Mather) and marketing service companies (10 years at IMS/Omnicom, formerly Schwarz Worldwide), as well as a year at Northwestern University as director of corporate relations.

Currently, Cochrane serves as an independent board director for three companies: Symbria Inc. (Compensation Committee chair, Governance and Nominating), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (Brand Enhancement and Protection Committee) and AAA/The Auto Club Group (Audit and Compliance Committee and Public Affairs, Government Relations and Marketing Committee). In the past, Cochrane has served on the board of directors of The Ad Council, Association of National Advertisers, She Runs It (formerly Advertising Women of New York) and Chicago Park District Foundation.

Her personal recognitions include U.S. Ad Person of the Year (NY), U.S. Ad Woman of the Year (NY), Top 50 in Brand Marketing, Marketing Game Changer Award, Business Insider’s Most Influential CMOs in the World, Client of the Year (Chicago), Ad Woman of the Year (Chicago), Working Mother Magazine’s Working Mother of the Year, U.S. Marketer of the Year, and The Allstate Corporation Diversity Leadership Award. Most recently, Cochrane was named a 2019 “Director to Watch” by Private Company Director Magazine.

Cochrane laid the foundation for her career – and many lifelong friendships – at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she earned a bachelor of journalism with honors from the Missouri School of Journalism. A member of the Honors College, she was also named to Mortar Board (top ten university females) and was an active member of the Student Foundation.

Cochrane also earned an advanced advertising certificate as part of the American Association of Advertising Agencies program at Medill.