CMO Corner

Coverage of industry leaders from our journalists


  • Milo Ventimiglia for Edward Jones
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    Courtesy of Edward Jones
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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 Feb. 9, 2026
  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Getty Images
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    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 Feb. 4, 2026
  • Lady Gaga appears in Rocket's teaser for its Super Bowl ad
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    Courtesy of Rocket
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    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 Feb. 4, 2026
  • Melissa McCarthy, Nicholas Gonzalez and Itatí Cantoral for E.l.f.'s latest Super Bowl ad
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    Courtesy of E.l.f. Cosmetics
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    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 Feb. 3, 2026
  • A zoomed in image of a building with gold signage. The sign says "P.F. Chang's."
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 30, 2026
  • Pepsi campaign imagery showcasing a polar bear prepping for a taste test of Coke Zero and Pepsi Zero Sugar.
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    Retrieved from YouTube on January 29, 2026
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    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 Jan. 29, 2026
  • Business team in a modern office discussing data analytics and artificial intelligence.
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    Getty Images
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    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
  • An image of a giant logo that says Applbee's.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 28, 2026
  • aperol
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    Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 27, 2026
  • Dollar Shave Club Bullshit meter
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    Courtesy of Dollar Shave Club
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    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 Jan. 26, 2026
  • A close up image of a round red sign that says "Chipotle Mexican Grill."
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    Courtesy of Chipotle/Photograph by Media Wisdom Photography Ltd
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    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 Jan. 26, 2026
  • an executive in business attire reads from a tablet in a meeting room
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    Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 26, 2026
  • A Dave's Hot Chicken storefront
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    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 Jan. 22, 2026
  • Coca-Cola cans on a pallet.
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    George Frey via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 16, 2026
  • Dos Equis brand character the Most Interesting Man in the world
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    Courtesy of Dos Equis/Heineken USA
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    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 Jan. 16, 2026
  • Walt Disney company logo is displayed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
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    Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 Jan. 15, 2026
  • A close up image of a round red sign that says "Chipotle Mexican Grill."
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    Courtesy of Chipotle/Photograph by Media Wisdom Photography Ltd
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    Chipotle brand chief Chris Brandt steps down

    The award-winning executive led marketing for the fast casual chain for nearly eight years.

    By Jan. 14, 2026
  • An athletic store on a New York City corner.
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    Daphne Howland/Marketing Dive
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    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 Jan. 9, 2026
  • 7-Eleven
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    Retrieved from Vantage Innovation Lab.
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    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
  • Malik Nabers in an IHOP ad
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    Retrieved from IHOP on December 23, 2025
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    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 Jan. 5, 2026
  • corporate signage in silver and blue outside of a factory entrance
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 18, 2025
  • Zola campaign
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    Courtesy of Zola
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    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 Dec. 15, 2025
  • Interior of Manassas, Virginia, Sprouts
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    Peyton Bigora/Marketing Dive
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    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 Dec. 10, 2025
  • Bowen Yang for Zoom
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    Courtesy of Zoom
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    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 Dec. 10, 2025
  • Walton Goggins for Walmart
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    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 , , , Dec. 9, 2025