The CMO Podcast

Kenny Mitchell (Levi’s) | From Breakdancer to Legacy Brands

6 snips
Apr 15, 2026
Kenny Mitchell, SVP and CMO of the Levi’s brand who rose through marketing at Snap, McDonald’s and Gatorade. He talks about connecting Levi’s legacy to today’s culture. He explains the thinking behind the Super Bowl “Behind Every Original” campaign. He shares the CASE framework and Levi’s growth ambitions.
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ANECDOTE

Breakdancing Began Kenny's Levi's Story

  • Kenny's Levi's origin began with breakdancing where his crew wore crisp 501s as a uniform.
  • He remembers those jeans as his first name-brand pants and later felt full circle joining Levi's as CMO.
ANECDOTE

Super Bowl Used To Launch A Global Campaign

  • Levi's decided early to return to the Super Bowl as a platform to launch a global 2026 campaign, not just a standalone spot.
  • Kenny began planning the moment after the prior Super Bowl and secured CEO and CFO support to use home-turf momentum.
INSIGHT

Levi's Positioning As Outfitter Of Originals

  • Levi's point of view: outfitters of the world's originals, anchored in historical proof points from Steve Jobs to Basquiat.
  • Kenny used that longitudinal evidence to craft 'Backstory' showing people from diverse eras moving progress forward.
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