Nick Tran, is the CMO and President of First Round, leading Diageo’s new joint venture with Main Street Advisors to oversee two of the world’s most culturally driven spirits brands: Ciroc and Lobos 1707. Nick shares how he’s approaching brand reinvention vs continuation, why product innovation and cultural relevance are key, and what goes into long-term brand growth. We also touch on the future of social media, AI’s role in marketing, and what it takes to build a truly modern CMO career.
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - How the Diageo and Main Street Advisors partnership happened?
02:49 - The long term view for Ciroc and Lobos 1707
06:10 - The plan for Ciroc
08:57 - Reinvention vs continuation when transforming a brand
11:31 - Focusing on product innovation and serve for Ciroc and Lobos 1707
14:14 - Is alcohol drinking trending down?
19:00 - How do you become culturally relevant?
22:07 - Using the Liquid Death challenger mindset
24:08 - The role of celebrities and influencers for drinks brands
27:16 - Why Nick is investing in his personal brand
31:53 - What does it take to become a successful CMO?
37:04 - How Nick invests in other companies
41:59 - Nick Tran’s thoughts on AI
45:47 - Have we reached peak social media?
50:39 - Bonus Question
