CMO Corner

Coverage of industry leaders from our journalists

  • A screen displaying corporate text against an orange background. A blue Sour Patch Kid gummy sits in an office chair to the right
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    Permission granted by Sour Patch Kids
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    Opinion

    3 brands that understand Gen Alpha’s humor — and what they’re doing right

    Sour Patch Kids, Crocs and Nutter Butter all tap into the meme-driven humor that the cohort loves, says Movers+Shakers’ CEO Evan Horowitz. 

    By Evan Horowitz • Oct. 22, 2024
  • A Starbucks store stands in Manhattan on January 30, 2024 in New York City.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks appoints ex-Chipotle exec as first global chief brand officer

    Tressie Lieberman joins the coffee chain as part of new CEO Brian Niccol’s marketing overhaul, which also includes a recent agency appointment.

    By • Updated Oct. 21, 2024
  • A person interacts with a registration desk at Advertising Week
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    Permission granted by Shutterstock
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    Top takeaways from Advertising Week 2024 marketers need to know

    Leading marketers like PepsiCo Foods, Home Depot and Diageo tackled topics ranging from artificial intelligence to media networks at the annual confab.

    By • Oct. 18, 2024
  • TV personality Simon Cowell, wearing a black T-shirt, sits behind a metal kitchen counter with Domino's branding
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    Permission granted by Domino's Pizza
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    Domino’s promotes brand chief to CMO to sharpen global strategy

    Kate Trumbull, who helped revamp the chain’s loyalty program, is tasked with scaling its Hungry for MORE initiative to international markets.

    By • Oct. 17, 2024
  • Martha Stewart poses alongside her JCPenney 2024 Holiday Collection.
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    Courtesy of JCPenney
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    JCPenney’s holiday playbook: Deals, in-store experiences and Martha Stewart

    The embattled department store is leaning into its already successful “Really Big Deal Reveals” campaign and bringing back a nostalgic giveaway. 

    By • Oct. 17, 2024
  • Nespresso
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    Courtesy of Nespresso
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    Q&A

    Nespresso’s marketing and sustainability maven on her dual role

    Jessica Padula discussed acting like a luxury brand and how to navigate growing ESG backlash at Advertising Week New York.

    By • Oct. 11, 2024
  • Duracell Global Chief Marketing Officer Ramon Velutini during an AWNY panel
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    Courtesy of Advertising Week New York
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    Duracell CMO’s lessons for bringing low-interest brands into culture

    Global Chief Marketing Officer Ramon Velutini explained how a TikTok comment led to a successful campaign around a reality show scandal.

    By • Oct. 9, 2024
  • Mountain Dew cans with a new logo
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    Courtesy of Mountain Dew
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    Why Mountain Dew refreshed its visual identity for a new era of marketing

    A new logo was designed by PepsiCo’s in-house team, which includes a mix of veterans and newcomers to both the brand and industry.

    By • Oct. 9, 2024
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    Eduard Figueres via Getty Images
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    5 ways marketers can master RCS for mobile messaging

    Now that Apple has adopted Rich Communication Services, here’s how brands can prepare to use the business side of the messaging standard.

    By • Oct. 3, 2024
  • Martha Stewart holds a football in a baking dish in a JCPenney ad
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    Courtesy of JCPenney
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    JCPenney names Marisa Thalberg consulting CMO to bolster turnaround plan

    The veteran marketer, most recently CMO of SeaWorld, describes the 122-year-old retailer as “ripe for reinvigoration.”

    By • Oct. 2, 2024
  • Mazda campaign art
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    Courtesy of Mazda
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    Q&A

    Mazda’s CMO on how a new brand platform helps it punch above its weight

    WPP agency VML crafted “Choose to Be Moved,” the first creative from a platform that seeks to connect the brand’s heritage with the cultural zeitgeist.

    By • Sept. 25, 2024
  • Pillars on flanking a department store entrance.
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    Daphne Howland/Marketing Dive
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    Macy’s beefs up marketing team

    Jason Holzman leads various creative and marketing operations and reports to Chief Marketing Officer Sharon Otterman, a fellow NBCUniversal alum.

    By Daphne Howland • Sept. 19, 2024
  • People in a diner in a Wrangler ad
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    Courtesy of Wrangler
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    How Wrangler is riding its Western heritage to build brand momentum

    After a positive second quarter, the apparel marketer will return to national broadcast TV and kick off its first global advertising campaign since 2021.

    By • Sept. 12, 2024
  • A young woman holds a phone in front of a space launch for a TD Bank ad
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    Courtesy of TD Bank
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    How TD Bank makes banking accessible to younger, diverse consumers

    Global CMO Tyrrell Schmidt explains how a campaign crafted by Ogilvy Canada reaches Gen Z and millennial consumers who are new to investing.

    By • Sept. 11, 2024
  • A human hand holding a black block displaying the letter "x"
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    Former Hyundai CMO named X’s global head of marketing

    Angela Zepeda joins the platform at a challenging time and is tasked with growing the brand globally and helping to accelerate innovation.

    By • Sept. 10, 2024
  • Five people in Old Navy clothing
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    Courtesy of Old Navy
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    Q&A

    Why Old Navy is throwing back to the ‘90s to burnish its iconic brand

    CMO Behnaz Ghahramani opened a new playbook for a collection and campaign that celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Gap-owned retailer.

    By • Sept. 10, 2024
  • Peyton Manning painting in a Nationwide ad
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    Courtesy of Nationwide
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    Q&A

    Why Nationwide tapped Peyton Manning to sell more than insurance in new ads

    Ogilvy, which created the iconic “Nationwide is on your side” slogan and jingle in the ‘60s, is behind new work that leverages Nationwide’s NFL partnership.

    By • Sept. 5, 2024
  • NFL player Saquon Barkley serves food at an Applebee's
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    Courtesy of Applebee's
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    Q&A

    Applebee’s CMO on how brand’s NFL sponsorship feeds its new campaign

    Grey developed ads and a content series that could help the casual dining chain leverage its role as the official grill and bar of the NFL.

    By • Sept. 3, 2024
  • A child and a Barbie astronaut are seen looking up at the sky together for Barbie's "Give Limitless Possibilities" campaign.
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    Courtesy of Mattel
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    How Barbie is giving fresh energy to its tagline and catching WNBA fever

    The Mattel brand’s Senior Vice President Krista Berger explained how a new “Give Limitless Possibilities” campaign is helping Barbie connect to its purpose.

    By • Aug. 30, 2024
  • Professionals have a meeting in front of a computer.
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    PixelsEffect via Getty Images
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    The CMO role has evolved: Here’s what the numbers say

    While the title of CMO is still alive and well, major disparities exist when it comes to tenure and representation, according to a Forrester report.

    By • Aug. 30, 2024
  • An image of a hand holding a smart phone with a KFC Rewards logo on the screen
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC names new US CMO to bolster turnaround efforts

    Catherine Tan-Gillespie, a company veteran, will hold dual roles related to marketing and development as KFC tries to break out of a slump.

    By • Aug. 29, 2024
  • Hyundai "It's OK" Advertisement During 2024 Summer Games
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    Courtesy of Hyundai Motor America
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    Hyundai’s former CMO Zepeda departs following internal reorganization

    Angela Zepeda recently saw her role shifted from CMO to chief creative officer, with performance marketing moving under a separate division.

    By • Aug. 28, 2024
  • Taco Bell UK Encore Hours
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    How Taco Bell is exporting its musical bona fides to grow internationally

    International CMO Amy Durini explained how the chain is building its brand and why efforts to engage with consumers around culture aren't “plug and play.”

    By • Aug. 27, 2024
  • A pair of binoculars covered with code, indicating a cybersecurity breach
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    Marco_Piunti via Getty Images
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    Marketing data security threats are rising: Where CMOs see gaps

    While marketers prioritize working with data-security teams, effective communication remains a struggle, according to research from the CMO Council and KPMG. 

    By • Aug. 22, 2024
  • Hinge's No Ordinary Love zine
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    Courtesy of Hinge
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    Q&A

    Why Hinge turned real love stories into a zine written by literary stars

    CMO Jackie Jantos explains how “No Ordinary Love” was inspired by #BookTok and helps the “dating app designed to be deleted” reach Gen Z.

    By • Aug. 21, 2024