CMO Corner: Page 3
Coverage of industry leaders from our journalists
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How Keurig Dr. Pepper embraces flywheel marketing to drive performance
During an Advertising Week panel, CMO Drew Panayiotou explained how marketers can measure success when accuracy is not completely possible.
By Chris Kelly • Oct. 9, 2025 -
How Molson Coors, PepsiCo operationalize rapid, relevant culture plays
Brands must be aligned with agency partners and remove barriers to execution, executives explained at Advertising Week.
By Chris Kelly • Oct. 7, 2025 -
Kraft Heinz CMO on being culturally nimble without losing brand equity
From a condiment collaboration with hip-hop producer Mustard to a Weinermobile race, Todd Kaplan tries to keep activations rooted in insights.
By Peter Adams • Oct. 7, 2025 -
How Oura keys into self-expression to reach Gen Z, millennials
The brand is betting on channels where return on investment is strongest as it launches a ceramic smart ring in different colors for the first time.
By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2025 -
Retrieved from Qdoba on October 02, 2025
Q&AQdoba’s new CMO on turning the fast-casual chain into a national brand
As it rapidly expands, the chain is relying on an agency roster including Leo, Influential and other Publicis shops, newly appointed CMO Jon Burke explains.
By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2025 -
Top marketing conferences to attend in 2026
A convenient list of must-attend events for advertising professionals, from trade organization symposiums to expos around innovation and technology.
By Jessica Hammers • Updated Jan. 27, 2026 -
Shake Shack appoints first chief brand officer
The addition of a marketing executive is aligned with the fast-casual chain’s plan to increase its paid media ad spend to help boost sales.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 23, 2025 -
Taco Bell promotes marketing execs to take US success global
CMO Taylor Montgomery was promoted to global chief brand officer and will be succeeded by Luis Restrepo, vice president of brand and product marketing.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 22, 2025 -
How Lee’s new brand platform reasserts its denim authority
“Built Like Lee” celebrates the heritage of a brand founded in 1889 and is the first expression of a creative vision meant to resonate with a new generation.
By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 22, 2025 -
How Aldi revamped its social media strategy — and why it’s working
The fast-growing company has turned away from posts that just highlight its low prices and toward more playful, culturally relevant content, its marketing director said in an interview.
By Peyton Bigora • Sept. 18, 2025 -
Wawa appoints former General Mills marketer as CMO
Doug Martin served the CPG brand for nearly two decades, most recently as its chief marketer, and joins Wawa in the middle of an expansion phase.
By Jessica Loder • Sept. 17, 2025 -
KFC hires Wingstop marketer as CMO to fire up comeback plan
Melissa Cash takes over at the Yum chain for Catherine Tan-Gillespie, who was promoted to president in April.
By Chris Kelly • Sept. 15, 2025 -
Q&A
How JCPenney is preparing for the holidays with laugh-out-loud deals
Marketing chief Marisa Thalberg discussed how marketers can engage holiday shoppers amid economic uncertainty.
By Chris Kelly • Sept. 12, 2025 -
American Eagle’s celebrity marketing drew outcry — and new customers
The brand defended its controversial ads with Sydney Sweeney, claiming the campaign contributed to “unprecedented” customer acquisition.
By Peter Adams • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Why Checkers and Rally’s are keeping the pedal to the metal on value
CMO Scott Johnson explains how the sister chains built on a brand platform created by Partners + Napier via a partnership with rapper GloRilla.
By Chris Kelly • Sept. 4, 2025 -
Retrieved from Celsius on August 26, 2025
How Celsius is building on brand campaign success with college football
CMO Kyle Watson explains how the energy drink is stepping up NIL efforts as part of a “Live. Fit. Go” effort that kicked off in June.
By Chris Kelly • Aug. 27, 2025 -
Applebee’s appoints marketing, operating chiefs
Following a strong Q2, Dine Brands will bring on Michelle Chin as CMO and Jerrold Wong as COO to extend the chain’s recent successes.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 26, 2025 -
BetMGM’s CMO on how its brand repositioning unites gaming, entertainment
To separate from the pack, the sports-betting platform is launching a Las Vegas-inspired brand refresh with ads starring Jon Hamm.
By Chris Kelly • Aug. 26, 2025 -
Crocs appoints 2 new CMOs to level up creative strategy: WWD
Crocs and Heydude are getting new marketing chiefs as they double down on storytelling, with the latter looking to build on a brand awareness bump.
By Peter Adams • Aug. 18, 2025 -
How Applebee’s sharper marketing turned around sales ahead of NFL season
The casual dining chain recently achieved positive same-store sales growth for the first time in two years, Dine Brands CEO John Peyton explains.
By Chris Kelly • Aug. 18, 2025 -
Deep Dive
How to win back-to-school marketing as American Eagle’s big bet blows up
Though spending forecasts are bleak, value-focused messaging and smart social media plays could help brands transcend the turbulence.
By Jessica Hammers • Aug. 12, 2025 -
How Domino’s new ads hit at fast food burger chains in fight over value
New spots visualize how a slice of pizza stacks up to a similarly priced slice of a burger to boost a long-standing deal and reach value-focused consumers.
By Chris Kelly • Aug. 4, 2025 -
Q&A
Don’t hold the pickles: Sonic’s CMO on going all-in on dining trend
CMO Ryan Dickerson discusses a Grillo’s partnership and ad shoot that involved over 2,000 real pickles as briny snacks win Gen Z’s favor.
By Peter Adams • July 17, 2025 -
Inside US Bank’s ad integration with Netflix’s ‘Happy Gilmore 2’
CMO Michael Lacorazza explains how teaming with the Adam Sandler sequel and production company Happy Madison helps the bank reach consumers.
By Chris Kelly • July 16, 2025 -
Why JanSport revived its cringeworthy back-to-school ads to reach Gen Z
The backpack maker’s TikTok-focused effort returns for a second year after an initial run led to the brand’s highest grossing sales day in history.
By Jessica Hammers • July 15, 2025