EVP & Chief Content Officer | Bonneville International
While Ruth Todd will always be identify as an Arizonian, she stands for the beauty of Utah and its people after 36 years of living and working here. “Utah people really care,” she says. “You try to give, but you get back so much more in return. I feel so grateful for this Utah community.”
Over the last decade, Todd has served as SVP and chief reputation officer at Nu Skin. While there, she became the longest-serving woman on the senior management team. The position was her first role in corporate communications after spending most of her career in the news industry. She has anchored for NBC, CBS and ABC affiliates across the country and is a household name in Salt Lake City, where she hosted the 10 o’clock news for 15 years.
“Some people might look at that as reinvention,” Todd says. “For me, it always felt more like evolution because each past position was a building block to the next. I just kept learning and growing.”
The award-winning news anchor returned to Brigham Young University in 2007 to teach communications students about working in the fast-paced world of news. She also spent time working for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a spokesperson on their media team and interfaith outreach team. Now, Todd is back at KSL, working as EVP and the chief content officer for its parent company, Bonneville International.
“In an era where there is a lot of distrust, mistrust and questioning if things are as they are portrayed in media, Bonneville is really as dedicated as it ever has been to making sure that what we give consumers is accurate, informative and the best that it can be,” Todd says.
Todd helps build and support her community by serving on several boards and volunteering often. “Connection is one of the drivers for a rich life,” she believes, and that if you take time to contribute, build and lift others, your experience will be better for it.
Todd takes special pride in nurturing the next generation of Utah’s women business leaders. In her career, she was often one of the only women in the room. Over time, she has seen the dynamics of a newsroom change as more women become directors, producers, anchors and camera operators. While Utah still has a long way to go, Todd says, “It has been thrilling for me to see women take their place in the board room or as decision-makers.” She advises her mentees to stay humble and curious, believe in themselves, and never let the fear of striking out stop them from getting up to bat.
“Being one of the Women of the Year is such a humbling recognition,” Todd says. “There are so many heroic women around our state who do the work of five women, but you just don’t see it. I am constantly amazed at the strength, optimism, capability and creativity of Utah women.”
Connect with Ruth Todd on LinkedIn.