The McKinsey Podcast The changing role of the CMO—and what it means for growth
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Aug 28, 2025 In this exciting discussion, Shelley Stewart III and Kelsey Robinson, both Senior Partners at McKinsey, dive into the evolving role of Chief Marketing Officers. They stress the critical need for CMOs to be included in strategic decision-making to enhance growth. The duo tackles the disconnect between CMOs and other executives, shares insights on measuring marketing effectiveness, and discusses how AI is reshaping marketing strategies. Their mission? To bring CMOs back into the conversation and drive meaningful organizational change.
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CMO Exclusion From Strategy Is Growing
- Only half of CMOs participate in strategic planning alongside the CEO, creating a growing disconnect.
- This gap undermines customer-centric decision making and limits growth potential.
Embed Marketing In Strategy To Boost Growth
- Having a marketing leader embedded in strategic decisions correlates with higher top-line growth.
- A single integrated customer-centric exec on the top team can drive materially greater growth.
Too Many C-Suite Roles Fragment Responsibility
- Executive teams have proliferated, fragmenting responsibility for the customer journey.
- When many roles claim similar responsibilities, accountability for strategic growth weakens.