Shannon L. Watkins

Watkins was made SVP in January 2020. She is responsible for driving and leading all aspects of brand strategy, advertising, media, experiential marketing, creative services and event production.

Watkins joined Aflac in April 2018 as vice president, Brand and Creative Services, and within her first year landed Aflac's fully integrated campaign that added the Southeastern Conference and the SEC Network to the company's national media focus.

With more than 20 years of advertising experience and expertise, Watkins is a recognized brand leader and has received a number of prestigious industry awards including a Clio and a Cannes Bronze Lion. Other honors she has received include distinction as a "woman to watch" by Brand Innovators and the Kelley Brand Leaders award from Indiana University in 2018.

Prior to joining Aflac, Watkins served in various brand, management and leadership capacities at companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods, ConAgra Foods and Procter & Gamble. Watkins holds a bachelor's degree from Fisk University and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, where she serves on the board of the alumni association. Watkins also serves as a board advisor for the Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing for the Association of National Advertisers, and she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America.