Target’s head of influencer marketing, Karyn Spencer, has joined Whalar as SVP of partnerships, a newly created role. Spencer joins following a period of rapid growth for Whalar’s US business and she will be tasked with expanding the company’s relationships with both brands and creators.
Spencer brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise with her, having previously led talent partnerships and influencer marketing for Target, where she produced the successful YouTube series and launched an annual influencer initiative, #TargetTalent, with Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk, The Try Guys’ Ned Fulmer, and more. She even brought Will Smith to Target’s National Sales Meeting and produced a video where he surprised guests shopping in the store.
Prior to that, Spencer was head of creators at Vine, where she created the platform’s global talent strategy.
Spencer was first introduced to Whalar when she met them at Target. When she saw how they drove both creative and measurement innovation in the market, she couldn’t resist becoming part of the team. As part of her new role, she will help multiple brands evolve their influencer strategies to create more resonant, relevant partnerships.
“Karyn is one of the original leaders in influencer marketing, having proven time and again her unmatched ability to pair incredible brands with the world’s freshest creators, delivering business results with truly compelling and unique content. Her background in merging brand marketing with both traditional and digital entertainers demonstrates an understanding of the unique challenges that marketers face in today’s environment, and she knows how to break through the noise. She will be an exceptional partner to our clients across the US,” said Neil Waller, co-founder, and CEO, Whalar.
