Mary Leach (pictured), who worked at Movado Group for over two decades, eventually rising to become the watch company’s senior vice president of global marketing and chief marketing officer, died Feb. 25 of cancer. She was 57.
Leach began with the watch company in 1999, originally serving as its vice president of advertising, according to WWD. While there, she launched collaborations with everyone from Derek Jeter to celebrity photographer Alexi Lubomirski.
Prior to that, she worked in account management at two ad agencies, Mezzina/Brown and Young & Rubicam.
She also served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Fordham University, where she taught a class on introduction to public relations. She also worked as a volunteer mentor at Fordham.
An online obituary from Movado Group’s chairman and CEO Efraim Grinberg said that Leach was “beloved and respected.”
“Mary will be remembered for her intelligence, grace, humor, and patience by all who had the great fortune to know and work with her,” he continued. “A humble and private person, Mary inspired the many lives she touched and made us all better people in the process. Those who were blessed to know Mary keep memories that they will cherish and treasure forever. Thank you Mary for giving us so much.”
In 2020, Movado Group spotlighted Leach for Women’s History Month.
She said her biggest inspiration were her parents, who “immigrated from Italy and showed me the importance of dedication and commitment to lead a purpose-driven life. I think being first-generation has made me more aware of the challenges many people have, the importance of empathy and being a strong role model.”
She is survived by husband David, sons Paris and Wyatt, mother Anna Maria, and brother Joseph.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Leach’s honor to Women Who Code, an organization that works to empower women working in technology.
(Image courtesy of Movado Group)
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