World Business Chicago names Caroline Dettman interim marketing lead

CHICAGO: World Business Chicago, the Chicago metropolitan area’s economic development organization, has named Caroline Dettman as its interim chief marketing officer and head of growth operations.

Dettman’s appointment comes as Chicago is facing “unfair and untrue negative attention and actions that are rooted in politics, not reality,” she said on LinkedIn. 

“I am helping lead a bold, future-forward marketing strategy designed to unleash Chicago’s inclusive economic potential through business and talent attraction,” Dettman wrote, adding that helping to “tell the real story of this city” is urgent. 

“It’s time to change the narrative and demand better,” she said.

President Donald Trump recently ordered National Guard units from several states to Chicago as part of what the White House calls an effort to bring down crime in there and in other cities. Tense protests took place in the city this weekend after a woman was shot by Border Patrol agents. 

Dettman was not available for additional comment.

She most recently served as chief marketing and creative officer for The Female Quotient, an equality services company that creates platforms for women and develops solutions for organizations committed to equality. She left that role in March.

In 2022, Dettman closed her consultancy, Have Her Back, after nearly three years in business. She was a founding partner of the firm, which partnered with companies and brands to advance equity for women while driving business outcomes. The consultancy advised on internal cultural change and go-to-market strategy. 

Previously, she was chief creative officer at Golin. Dettman was a part of PRWeek’s Women of Distinction class of 2019.

World Business Chicago is the economic development organization for the city of Chicago and the Chicagoland area. It provides technical assistance and programs to improve corporate attraction, relocation, expansion and business marketing. The organization sources and manages economic development projects for the city and the broader seven-county region, in partnership with other economic development leaders, according to its website.