PMG Announces Kate Rush Sheehy as VP of Customer Strategy
Austin, TX – PMG, the leading global independent platform company, has appointed Kate Rush Sheehy as VP of Customer Strategy. Based in the Austin office, Sheehy will spearhead the firm’s travel practice, developing strategies for an expanding list of travel and hospitality clients.
This strategic hire comes at a time when travel brands are striving to adapt to rapid shifts in consumer behavior, platform dynamics, and advancements in AI. As artificial intelligence transforms marketing execution economics, brands require partners capable of integrating business context, decision-making, activation, and measurement, rather than relying on fragmented, channel-specific planning. PMG’s model bridges this gap by combining marketing expertise with on-ground engineers and AI operationalization services, enabling clients to make swift, informed decisions and automate repetitive tasks while preserving critical human judgment.
Kate Rush Sheehy offers a unique blend of agency and client-side experience, having played a pivotal role in shaping the Vrbo brand and previously serving as Chief Strategy Officer at GSD&M. Throughout her career, she has earned recognition for cultivating high-performing teams and aiding brands in mitigating change while driving growth through customer-centered strategies. Under her leadership, PMG aims to empower travel brands to excel in dynamic sectors such as commerce, creator marketing, creative development, and answer engine optimization (AEO).
“I’ve spent a lot of my career working with travel brands, and there’s a reason I keep coming back to the category,” said Sheehy. “Although it’s a complex industry, it ultimately revolves around the places people visit and the memories they create. Currently, almost every aspect of travel discovery and experience is evolving.” She expressed excitement about PMG’s distinctive operating model, which aligns strategy, technology, and creativity to aid travel brands in navigating change effectively.
PMG’s expertise in the travel sector is evidenced by its successful collaborations with brands like Tripadvisor and Best Western. Notably, PMG assisted Best Western in elevating customer attraction and loyalty by transcending traditional promotional messaging. By leveraging traveler-segment insights and historical data, PMG executed a storytelling-driven campaign that achieved Best Western’s highest-ever monthly revenue for its Performance Based Marketing program while decreasing spend by 7% yet increasing platform revenue by 16%.
“PMG has rapidly gained traction in travel by guiding brands toward a unified operational model, connecting business context with planning, activation, governance, and measurement,” stated Jon Dupuis, President of PMG. “Our clients deserve a partner that can transform their operations and facilitate growth. Kate’s experience and leadership will significantly enhance our capabilities.”
For more details on PMG’s travel services or to explore career opportunities, visit pmg.com.
