

The one with McKinsey Senior Partners Kelsey Robinson and Shelley Stewart about the bottom-line consequences of the CEO and CMO disconnect.
Aug 6, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Kelsey Robinson and Shelley Stewart, Senior Partners at McKinsey, delve into their research on the troubling disconnect between CEOs and CMOs. They explore how this disconnection hampers growth and highlight the need for alignment in marketing as a strategic investment. The conversation reveals effective strategies to bridge the marketing divide, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, clear metrics, and communication. They also touch on how technology and AI play a role in transforming marketing strategies for better organizational synergy.
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CEO-CMO Relationship Breakdown
- The CEO and CMO relationship is broadly disconnected, harming growth and stakeholder value.
- This misalignment is measurable and persistent among the world's largest companies.
CEO-CMO Marketing Understanding Gap
- 65% of CEOs believe they understand modern marketing, yet 70% of CMOs disagree.
- This widening perception gap threatens collaboration and effective marketing leadership.
Marketing Leadership Drives Growth
- Embedding CMOs in strategic decision-making yields 1.4x higher revenue growth.
- Firms with a single integrated customer role see over 2x faster growth.