LinkedIn has appointed Heather Hopkins Freeland as its first-ever Chief Brand Officer, a newly created role where she will oversee Brand and Consumer Marketing for the professional networking platform.

Freeland announced her move in a LinkedIn post, expressing excitement about the opportunity. “I’m thrilled to share that I’m joining LinkedIn as its first Chief Brand Officer, overseeing Brand and Consumer Marketing! I’ve been a member of LinkedIn about as long as I can remember and I’ve been a fan of the brand just as long… I couldn’t be more excited to elevate LinkedIn’s bold vision to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce,” she wrote.

She added that her philosophy rests on building brands through authentic storytelling. “Brands are built by telling powerful stories and finding insightful ways to connect with people in ways that speak to their head, their heart, their aspirations, and their funny bone. Brands are remembered for making that authentic connection and it’s a privilege for me to be able to connect with the more than one billion members and customers on LinkedIn,” Freeland said.