Candice Graham

Candice Jacobson
Executive Director & Brand Communications
IHOP
B.S., Journalism, 2007

Graham is a dynamic communications strategist whose career spans some of America's most iconic consumer brands. As executive director of brand communications for IHOP, she leads the brand's internal and external communications, integrated marketing, philanthropic strategy and influencer engagement across more than 1,800 U.S. locations. Graham crafts and protects the brand's voice in many ways, ranging from product launches to crisis communications. Her career journey is equally impressive: transitioning from Mattel, where she brought purposeful storytelling to Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and Barbie, to CKE Restaurants, where she boldly transformed Carl's Jr. and Hardee's from a brand defined by provocative advertising into one celebrated for craveable food and cultural relevance. Throughout it all, Graham has distinguished herself as a master of evolving heritage brands, leveraging data, insights and integrated storytelling to make beloved institutions feel fresh and essential for today's consumers. Her excellence has earned her a spot on PRWeek's Power List and 40 Under 40 in 2021, as well as recognition among PR Daily and Ragan's Top Women in Communications in 2023.