KFC's South Pacific CMO, Tami Cunningham, has left the QSR after an 18-month stint and set up her own consultancy business.

Mi3 can confirm the experienced marketing leader departed from the Yum! Brands-owned business in December. She first joined the KFC team as CMO in June 2023 after three-and-a-half years at Johnson & Johnson, initially spending three years as senior marketing director for ANZ before switching across to head of strategic support (chief of staff) for APAC for just over a year.

In a statement provided to Mi3, KFC South Pacific general manager, Kristi Woolrych, confirmed the departure.

"Last year, Tami Cunningham made the decision to leave KFC to spend more time with her family. In her time as CMO, Tami was a valued contributor to our marketing and leadership teams, we wholeheartedly supported her decision and wish her well," she said.

Yum has not commented on whether the CMO role at KFC will be replaced, if it's actively looking for a new marketing chief, or if the role has been removed from the executive team.

Cunningham describes her new venture, Middle8, as one focused on partnering with boards and the c-suite to devise commercially-driven growth strategies.

Cunningham's broader resume includes stints as CMO of Blackmores Group, marketing director for snacks and beverages at Pepsico, marketing director at Mars, and over eight years at Lion in various marketing roles.

* With additional reporting by Nadia Cameron.