CMO Moves October Update
September CMO announcements set the stage, but October took a surprising turn.
September was a whirlwind with 20 new CMOs stepping up, and the first half of October kept the momentum strong with 21 announcements. But as October wound down, the pace slowed significantly: just 5 CMO appointments in the last two weeks of the month.
Why the sudden dip? Election season. Political campaigns are taking over media space, driving up costs and prompting companies to hit pause on high-profile marketing hires. It’s a strategic wait-and-watch approach as brands assess post-election consumer sentiment, ad budgets, and broader economic factors.
But despite the slowdown, October ended with 26 new global CMOs: 16 women and 10 men. Notably, 11 are stepping into the CMO role for the first time.
Spotlight on Recent Appointments:
- Vimeo appoints Charlie Ungashick as CMO to drive its shift toward B2B and AI.
- Pandora’s former CMO, Mary Carmen (MC) Gasco-Buisson, departs for the CEO role at Unilever Prestige, while Berta de Pablos-Barbier steps in as Pandora’s new CMO to lead the “Phoenix” strategy.
- Domino's promotes Kate Trumbull to CMO, aiming to sustain its $18.9 billion in sales through ongoing digital innovation amid fierce competition.
Geographic Highlights:
- New York led with 4 new CMOs, with California, Florida, Michigan, and Virginia each adding 2.
- Internationally, Denmark, Scotland, the Netherlands, England, and Germany also saw marketing leadership shifts.
Industry Insights:
- Software development topped the charts with 7 new CMO hires.
- Restaurants and financial services followed with 3 each, and entertainment with 2.
- In total, new CMOs were announced across 15 different industries.
This industry-wide pause is a reminder of the dynamic forces shaping executive hiring—timing, strategy, and a lot of anticipation for what’s next.
Click on the links below to find out more about these CMOs and their new mandates:
