CMO Corner
Coverage of industry leaders from our journalists
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Q&A
Edward Jones’ brand chief on marketing wealth management via sports, ads
Chief Brand, Experience and Marketing Officer Hema Widhani discusses the firm’s recent ad campaign and college football partnership.
By Chris Kelly • Feb. 9, 2026 -
Chipotle teases robust marketing plan amid search for ‘unicorn’ CMO
The fast casual chain plans to better support its marketing with targeted media as it looks to reverse negative sales growth.
By Chris Kelly • Feb. 4, 2026 -
Why Rocket’s Redfin is kicking off a $1M home giveaway at the Super Bowl
CMO Jonathan Mildenhall explains how consumers can take part in a home search via a scavenger hunt in the Redfin app.
By Chris Kelly • Feb. 4, 2026 -
E.l.f. taps into halftime show hype with purpose-driven Super Bowl play
The brand will be giving loyalty members a free subscription to Duolingo to help democratize access to learning a second language.
By Chris Kelly • Feb. 3, 2026 -
P.F. Chang’s names new CMO on tails of brand platform launch
Holly Smith replaces Sonika Patel, who lasted less than a year in the role but oversaw the launch of a “Light the Fire” campaign around the holidays.
By Peter Adams • Jan. 30, 2026 -
Retrieved from YouTube on January 29, 2026
How Pepsi is taking the fight to Coca-Cola at the Super Bowl and beyond
The marketer is continuing a revived Pepsi Challenge around its Pepsi Zero Sugar brand, and its big game ad features an icon from Coke’s advertising.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 29, 2026 -
Unpacking the marketing industry trends forecast for 2026
Marketers must remain resilient as they navigate ongoing challenges, including an uncertain economic backdrop and the advancement of AI.
By Marketing Dive staff • Jan. 29, 2026 -
How Applebee’s Date Night Pass builds on the chain’s marketing-led success
CMO Michelle Chin details the return of the fan-favorite offer and the lessons she’s learned in her first few months at the Dine Brands chain.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 28, 2026 -
Q&A
How Campari is staking a claim in the low-alcohol market
Allison Varone, head of marketing for Campari America, explains how the maker of Aperol and Crodino is attempting to resonate with younger drinkers.
By Sara Karlovitch • Jan. 27, 2026 -
How Dollar Shave Club is calling out B.S. after a Super Bowl stiff arm
The DTC disruptor brand pivoted after its latest edgy campaign was rejected for the big game for using profanity.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 26, 2026 -
Chipotle’s new CMO on how the brand’s latest ad meets consumer trends
“Choices” contrasts daily prep at the fast-casual Mexican chain with images of nuggets in fryer baskets and frozen burger patties on a conveyor belt.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 26, 2026 -
CMO-plus roles more prominent as marketing needs diversify: report
CMO churn can mean leaving for more responsibilities, including CEO posts, but representation has seen little progress, Spencer Stuart found.
By Peter Adams • Jan. 26, 2026 -
Q&A
Dave’s Hot Chicken CMO on building on organic growth as brand levels up
Brandon Rhoten spent years leading creative and social strategy at Wendy’s at a time when the chain rewrote the rules for fast-food advertising.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 22, 2026 -
Coke creates chief digital officer role to keep pace with tech demands
Sedef Salingan Sahin will lead digital transformation efforts, including in marketing, while CMO Manolo Arroyo’s remit will expand.
By Peter Adams • Jan. 16, 2026 -
Why Dos Equis revived the Most Interesting Man amid category headwinds
Alison Payne, CMO for parent company Heineken USA, explains how the iconic character is being reimagined for the social-digital world.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 16, 2026 -
Disney streamlines marketing into one unit focused on cohesion, agility
The company is creating a new enterprise-wide unit that unites teams from Disney Entertainment, Disney Experiences and ESPN.
By Peter Adams • Jan. 15, 2026 -
Chipotle brand chief Chris Brandt steps down
The award-winning executive led marketing for the fast casual chain for nearly eight years.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 14, 2026 -
Puma names new senior global brand marketer following reorganization
The appointment of Nadia Kokni follows the struggling sportswear icon uniting several key marketing and product functions under a chief brand officer.
By Peter Adams • Jan. 9, 2026 -
Retrieved from Vantage Innovation Lab.
7-Eleven’s chief marketing officer Marissa Jarratt departs
The executive spearheaded several popular marketing, advertising and digital loyalty initiatives, including the company’s retail media network.
By Brett Dworski • Jan. 9, 2026 -
Retrieved from IHOP on December 23, 2025
Why IHOP flipped a fantasy football punishment into bottomless pancakes
President Lawrence Kim explains why the breakfast chain tapped into fantasy football culture as part of its latest value-focused play.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 5, 2026 -
Unilever’s top marketer to depart amid structural shakeup at CPG giant
Esi Eggleson Bracey will leave at the end of January as Leandro Barreto, current CMO of beauty and wellbeing, sees his remit expanded.
By Peter Adams • Dec. 18, 2025 -
How Zola found its own Taylor and Travis for ‘Wedding of the Year’ push
CMO Briana Severson explains how the wedding platform’s new campaign reorients the cultural attention on megastars Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
By Chris Kelly • Dec. 15, 2025 -
How Sprouts cultivated an organic appearance in Apple TV hit ‘Pluribus’
CMO Alisa Gmelich explains how the cameo came about and details other ways the grocer taps into culture, including through women’s sports.
By Chris Kelly • Dec. 10, 2025 -
Q&A
How Zoom’s ‘SNL’-powered campaign moves the brand beyond meetings
Created by Colin Jost’s No Notes agency, “I Use Zoom!” stars Bowen Yang and is a humorous love letter to the platform’s loyal users.
By Chris Kelly • Dec. 10, 2025 -
Deep Dive
How the best marketing campaigns of 2025 navigated uncertain times
The savviest marketers cut through chaos with strategies and tactics that portend where advertising could head next year.
By Chris Kelly , Jessica Hammers , Peter Adams , Sara Karlovitch • Dec. 9, 2025