Does the CMO Role Need an Update?

0:28This episode is brought to you by Accenture. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required, compatibility and availability varies 18+. Digital transformation, AI, and rising customer expectations have reshaped what it takes to lead marketing today.

1:03But here's the tension. The title Chief Marketing Officer hasn't evolved as fast as the job itself. I'm Denise Dahlhoff, Director of Marketing and Communications Research at the Conference Board. And in my latest Harvard Business Review article, I explore whether it's time to rethink the CMO title and what companies should consider before making a change. Today's top marketers are expected to drive revenue, lead digital transformation, build brands, and deliver seamless customer experiences across platforms, channels, and teams. That's a big ask for one title. And because marketing is often not well understood across the entire company, it can limit cross-functional alignment and influence.

1:49Some organizations are breaking the role into more specialized titles, chief customer officer, chief digital officer, chief revenue officer, or expanded CMO plus titles that combine marketing with communications, customer experience, or strategy. There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but based on the research we have conducted, including interviews with CMOs and CEOs, we identified a few key principles. Let the title reflect what the role actually covers, whether it's brand, customer, digital, or all of the above. If marketing is split across roles, make sure everyone knows who's accountable for what.

2:34A clear, forward-looking title can help attract the right talent and signal the role's strategic importance. To learn what today's CMO role really looks like and how to title it strategically, read the full article on Harvard Business Review. Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-CONTACTS. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order.

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