LaToya Evans

 LaToya Evans is a strategic communications executive who has served as a senior crisis communications strategist and spokesperson for some of the world’s most notable brands including Walmart, Bank of America, IBM, Philips, and Compass Group.

Covering a broad spectrum of industries, LaToya has also worked with greats ranging from Detroit rapper Big Sean to the inventor of the IBM personal computer. Evans founded the national PR firm the LEPR Agency where she leads media and marketing initiatives for high-profile businesses, politicians and professional athletes. Notably in 2017, the company served as the agency of record for then-Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Vi Lyles’ mayoral campaign which resulted in Lyles being elected the city’s first African American woman mayor. In addition to leading re-election efforts in 2019, the firm continues to advice and consult on

numerous issues facing the state of North Carolina. Evans has also been a communications leader on U.S. presidential campaigns for both Andrew Yang and Mike Bloomberg while also serving as the public relations agency of record for the family of George Floyd and the respective George Floyd Memorial Foundation and also consulted on the Biden-Harris 2020 presidential campaign for paid and earned media. The LEPR Agency has also represented mega Pastor John Gray and Relentless Church, the international skincare line Urban Skin RX, the Hornets Foundation, Twitter, Coca Cola, Dentsply Sirona, Fifth Third Bank and a number of professional athletes and other national and international companies. In 2021, the LEPR Agency became an affiliate of Edelman Public Relations.

Most recently, Evans served as the head of corporate public relations at Ally Financial. Prior to her role at Ally, she was the Director, Head of Communications, North and South America and Global Crisis Communications Co-leader for Cisco Systems, leading a seasoned team of two dozen communications professionals from across the world. Evans was previously Vice President, Chief Communications Officer for the U.S. corporate dining division of Compass Group, the world’s largest foodservice company, reporting to the CEO and overseeing all aspects of corporate communications. Prior to Compass Group, she was Vice President, Corporate Communications at Bank of America Corporate where she oversaw media relations for the east coast and northeast including crisis communications for the region. Having experience in multiple industries, Evans was also the Senior Manager of U.S. Media Relations at Walmart Corporate, the world’s largest company, where she headed strategic media  relations for six retail divisions and served as a national media spokesperson. She previously lived in New York and oversaw media and various entertainment partnerships across the U.S. for Philips Electronics and managed communications for IBM’s global technology services division, writing for the inventor of LASIK eye surgery and being part of the public relations team that launched the famous artificial intelligence computer, Watson. Prior to her career in communications, Ms. Evans ran a freelance writing business, working often for Glamour and People magazines.