If you watched the Super Bowl last Sunday you will remember the M&M’S ad, created by BBDO New York, which thrust Ms. Brown into the spotlight after working behind-the-scenes for the past seventy years as Chief Chocolate Officer (CCO) at MARS Chocolate. In her role as CCO, Ms. Brown helped launch several new products and innovations in an effort to ensure M&M’S remain one of the best-selling milk chocolate candies in the world. She recently decided she could do even more good for the brand by stepping outside the executive office and serving as a public spokescandy.
The spokescandy needed a voice and MARS found the perfect one in Vanessa Williams – television, film, Broadway and music superstar. Williams has played many characters that exude the personality traits of Ms. Brown, providing her ample experience to give voice to the smart and brainy CCO.
At the recent opening night gala at The Museum of Chocolate Art in New York City, I had the pleasure of interviewing Vanessa. I asked her how she landed the gig as the voice of Ms. Brown. She said, “They called and asked me to come lay down a few tracks for them.” It was a match made in chocolate heaven as Ms. Williams velvety voice is the perfect fit for the dry humor and sharp tongue of Ms. Brown.
She told me that she didn’t tell her children until right before the commercial aired. “I wanted it to be a surprise for them to hear my voice during the Super Bowl.” They were thrilled that their mother has the distinction to serve as the voice of the the Ms. Brown character.
Vanessa did several interviews during the event with journalists from other major media outlets like the BBC. So it was an honor for me to get a few minutes with her. She is a delightful woman and, yes…she is stunningly beautiful!!!
Ms. Brown will continue in the national spotlight throughout 2012 to showcase that M&M’S are not your average milk chocolate. She’ll be featured in a series of television, print and digital ads, in-store displays, promotions, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Watch for Ms. Brown to make several cameo appearances on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice beginning
Sunday, February 19.
You can interact with Ms. Brown at the following places on the Internet:
M&M’S Website
M&M’S on Twitter @mmsbrown
M&M’S on Facebook
I love that about her not telling her children!! I’m so happy you were able to talk to her, it made me think about what you said about possibilities…so many possibilities and then you were able to meet her and interview! Woohoo!
She was so beautiful and so SWEET! I always say, “It doesn’t hurt to ask!”