CHICAGO — The American Egg Board has named Kate Karnes, Christopher Bowers and John Gallagher to new marketing leadership roles.

Karnes has been named director of channel marketing. In her new role, Karnes will manage channel-specific campaigns and work with teams to build industry partnerships and “position eggs as an essential and versatile solution across applications,” the AEB said.

Prior to joining AEB, Karnes amassed more than a decade of agency experience in food and ingredient marketing. She previously worked at the public relations firm Porter Novelli where she developed integrated campaigns for the Almond Board of California, Taylor Farms, HZPC/Potato Glory and Griffith Foods.

“Kate’s expertise in ingredient marketing, trade strategy, and brand storytelling makes her a powerful addition to our team,” said Emily Metz, president and chief executive officer of the AEB. “She understands the food industry from every angle and will help us better connect with key decision-makers. Her work will support our efforts to position eggs as a go-to solution for chefs, food manufacturers, and retailers-meeting evolving customer needs, opening new opportunities, and driving impact for America's egg farmers.”

Bowers has been named manager of consumer insights. In his new role, Bowers will use research and data to guide strategic decision-making, identify growth opportunities, and “help shape the narrative of eggs as a relevant and in-demand food in every channel,” the AEB said. He also will lead support for the AEB Newsroom, monitoring media trends and identifying emerging topics.

Prior to joining the AEB, Bowers was a senior account manager at the marketing research firm Circana, where he led insight generation and strategic analysis for several clients such as PepsiCo, Inc. He also held a leadership role at the information technology company DS-IQ, where he supported digital shopper marketing efforts for Walmart, and provided research and project management for the marketing research platform Kantar/Millward Brown.

“Chris’s deep expertise in translating complex consumer data into actionable insights will be instrumental in elevating our marketing strategy,” Metz said. “His ability to connect the dots between shopper behavior, industry trends, and business needs will help us build stronger connections with foodservice, retail and manufacturing partners and ultimately create more impact for America’s egg farmers.”

Gallagher has been promoted to associate director of industry affairs and engagement, having previously worked as manager of insights for the company. In his new role, Gallagher will focus on strengthening relationships with egg producers and industry partners while also leading industry engagement initiatives, the AEB said.

“John has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to advancing the AEB’s mission,” Metz said. “In his new role, his focus on industry initiatives and partnerships will be instrumental in strengthening our collaborations and driving demand for eggs in ways that benefit America’s egg farmers.”