MARITA HUDSON THOMAS

Chief Communications Officer

Strategic Integrated Communications – Corporate Narrative Development – Crisis & Reputation Management – Media & Public Relations – Executive Positioning – AI Reputation Optimization

A trusted C-level communications executive, business influencer, relationship builder, and collaborator, Marita Hudson Thomas is an expert in connecting corporate communications strategy to business impact, brand storytelling, and reputational success. With more than 20 years of leadership in strategic communications, media relations, and reputation management, she has guided private and publicly traded companies through organizational change, business transformation, organic growth, and crisis management across traditional, digital, and AI-driven communications platforms.

Currently the Chief Communications Officer at Cars.com Inc., Marita leads the organization’s internal and external communications, corporate reputation strategy, media relations, industry engagement, corporate social responsibility (CSR), events, and editorial content development. She has transformed the communications function into an integrated, high-impact “news bureau” model, leveraging paid, earned, shared, and owned media (PESO) to enhance brand visibility, executive positioning, and search authority since the company’s IPO.

The way in which Marita and her team frame business stories has been instrumental in guiding Cars.com through rebrands, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), organizational restructuring, activist investor cycles, and the global pandemic. She has become a thought leader in the emerging AI reputation economy, helping brands evolve from SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) — ensuring corporate visibility on AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Bing Copilot.

Under her leadership, the Cars.com editorial arm, comprised of experienced automotive journalists, has become an industry benchmark for automotive consumer education and content marketing, producing digital articles, video storytelling, and social media engagement strategies that drive trust and traffic. In 2025, Marita and her team earned Sabre Awards Technology Finalist recognition in the eCommerce category for executive visibility and data-driven storytelling. Serving as a company spokesperson, she has been featured in PRWeek, Automotive News, and other major business publications for her achievements in corporate communications, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) leadership, and brand strategy.

Recognized as a leading crisis communications and reputation management expert, Marita has a proven record of anticipating and mitigating reputational risks before they escalate. At Vivid Seats, a $1.5B ticket exchange and resale marketplace, she aligned PR, social media, and content strategy to manage customer and media scrutiny. Her proactive approach protected brand integrity, strengthened stakeholder trust, and reduced potential legal exposure.

Earlier in her career, at Orbitz Worldwide (an Expedia company), Marita rose to become Head of Communications, leading PR and media campaigns for Orbitz.com, CheapTickets.com, Away.com, and Orbitz for Business. She executed integrated communications, marketing, and social media programs that established Orbitz as a travel industry thought leader, contributing to its #2 market position and $1.6B acquisition by Expedia.

Before joining Orbitz, Marita revitalized iconic media and beauty brands at Johnson Publishing Company, home of EBONY Magazine and JET Magazine. She transformed one of the company’s best-known magazine features into a revenue-generating media product and expanded the reach of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, an enduring brand serving African American women. Her innovative public relations and brand strategy captured new subscription audiences while preserving the legacy of John H. Johnson, the visionary founder of EBONY and JET. For her work with the White House forward teams honoring Johnson’s service and impact, she earned a Presidential Commendation.

Marita has also worked with entertainment and celebrity clients, including Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson, providing communications consulting, PR guidance, and media positioning during Hudson’s American Idol and Dreamgirls era. In 2023, she signed a four-episode podcast deal with EBONY Media Network, serving as creator, writer, interviewer, executive producer, and talent recruiter. The show featured authentic, candid conversations about motherhood, leadership, career balance, and personal growth, attracting both celebrity guests and industry thought leaders.

Having started her career at EBS Public Relations and Porter Novelli, one of the world’s top global PR agencies, Marita built a foundation in media strategy, corporate storytelling, and brand positioning. She developed deep expertise across technology, consumer, and corporate sectors, gaining insight into both agency and in-house communications. Later, as part of Chicago Public Schools, the third-largest school district in the nation, she implemented internal communications systems that improved engagement and transparency for more than 40,000 employees.

Marita earned her M.S. in Human Services Administration from Spertus College in Chicago and a B.S. in Public Relations and English Writing from Illinois State University. A respected Chicago communications leader and mentor, she advocates for leadership development, women in PR, and diversity in communications. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and formerly served on the board of Polished Pebbles, a nonprofit mentoring organization dedicated to empowering girls to become future leaders.

A dedicated wife and mother, Marita resides in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and two daughters.