Former PepsiCo Executive Launches AdTech Startup Innotech, Targeting Fragmented Market
Oliver Chen, a former senior marketing executive at PepsiCo, has left his corporate role to co‑found Innotech, an ad‑technology platform. Chen cites the industry’s fragmentation and untapped monetization potential as the driver behind the venture. The move underscores a broader shift of senior CMO talent toward entrepreneurship in the marketing tech space.
CMOs Turn to Hybrid Human‑AI Pods to Accelerate Marketing Agility
Chief marketing officers are reorganizing their departments into modular pods that combine adaptive AI with creative and analytical talent. The new structure promises up to a 30% lift in efficiency, helping brands keep pace with volatile markets and heightened customer...
Omnicom Advertising Asia Installs New Regional Leadership, Names Subbu Chief Knowledge Officer
Omnicom Advertising Asia announced a new regional leadership structure, elevating S. Subramanyeswar (Subbu) to Chief Knowledge Officer while retaining his India CSO role. The team, reporting to President Sean Donovan, includes chiefs for creativity, innovation, strategy, client partnership and growth,...
Cal AI’s Jake Castillo Shows How a Four‑Person Team Scaled to Millions and Sold to MyFitnessPal
Cal AI, an AI‑powered calorie‑tracking app, was acquired by MyFitnessPal less than two years after its April 2024 launch. Co‑founder and CMO Jake Castillo says the four‑person team reached millions in monthly revenue by leveraging influencer partnerships and relentless speed....
Quantifying Investment in Brand
In this episode of On Point, host Peter Van Artryk talks with Lorraine Jekylls, CEO of the London‑based agency Free Brands and incoming chair of the Insurance Marketing and Communications Association, about the unique challenges of branding in the insurance...
Adzymic Makes Key Appointment to Drive Growth in North Asia
Adzymic, the Singapore‑based ad‑tech firm, has appointed Sally Ng as its new regional lead for North Asia, overseeing Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Greater Bay Area. The move comes as Dentsu forecasts APAC ad spend to hit $376.4 bn by 2026,...
I Built an AI App with a Tiny Team. We Scaled It to Millions and Sold It to MyFitnessPal in...
Cal AI, an AI‑powered calorie‑tracking app founded by Jake Castillo and three teammates in April 2024, grew to millions in monthly revenue and was acquired by MyFitnessPal in under two years. The startup’s growth hinged on aggressive influencer marketing, signing...
Vested Expands Global Leadership Team to Accelerate Integrated Digital and Creative Capabilities
Vested, a specialist financial‑services marketing agency, announced three senior hires: Sitha Ngy as Senior Creative Director, Paul Dalton‑Borge as Managing Director, and Adam Fontana as Director of Digital Strategy. The appointments expand Vested’s global creative and digital capabilities to meet rising demand for...
Former Stan CMO Joins Gifting Platform Prezzee As Global CMO
Prezzee, the digital gifting and payment platform, has hired Diana Ilinkovski as its global chief marketing officer. Ilinkovski, who helped launch and scale streaming service Stan into Australia’s leading subscription brand, will steer a unified global marketing strategy that leverages...
Fortidia's VP of Marketing Stephanie Johnson Drives Growth Across 450 Franchise Sites
Stephanie Johnson, vice president of marketing at Fortidia U.S., is steering enterprise marketing for three franchise brands—AlphaGraphics, PostNet and World Options—across more than 450 locations. Her focus on integrated strategy, digital commerce and team culture has delivered measurable revenue growth...
MrBeast Searches for CMO to Build a ‘Serious Commercial Machine’
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is expanding Beast Industries beyond YouTube by launching a global search for a chief marketing officer. The new CMO will steer a rapidly diversifying portfolio that includes entertainment releases, snack brands, toys, telecom services, and...
BigBasket Hires Ex-Google Pay Exec Arpit Jaiswal as Chief Growth Officer to Drive Expansion
Tata-owned online grocery platform BigBasket has appointed Arpit Jaiswal, former Head of Growth at Google Pay, as its new Chief Growth Officer. Jaiswal will steer the retailer’s push for profitable growth, deeper category leadership and AI‑driven user acquisition. The hire...
AI Code Replaced 17M Weekly Hits, Scaling Instantly
Taylor Haren was Clay's largest user at one point, hitting their platform 17.3 million times per week. Last month he replaced it with a $200/mo Claude Code subscription. Next week, he's going to show you how 👇 Taylor can't write...
Pallav Singh Joins Tata Motors as Deputy General Manager for Martech and AI
Pallav Singh has joined Tata Motors as Deputy General Manager, leading the new Martech and AI vertical. He moves from Porsche India, where he oversaw brand, PR, digital, social, CRM and MarTech. Singh brings digital‑transformation experience from EY, Henkel and...
LT Foods Names Ritesh Sud CMO for India & Far East, Boosting FMCG Push
LT Foods has hired Ritesh Sud as Chief Marketing Officer for India and the Far East. Sud brings 18 years of FMCG experience, most recently leading Tata Consumer Products' tea portfolio. The move signals LT Foods' intent to deepen brand...
Popeyes Launches One Piece Anime Menu to Revive Chicken Sales
Popeyes introduced a limited-time One Piece anime‑themed menu and merchandise on April 13, targeting Gen Z fans to lift sales that fell 0.7% in Q4 FY2025. The collaboration includes four new items, exclusive bento boxes and a merch drop, and...
Nexio Power Launches NexioTrucks.com, Projecting $2.6M Annual Fleet Savings
Nexio Power, Inc. rolled out NexioTrucks.com, a rebuilt website that gives fleet operators detailed vehicle data, a fleet‑economics calculator and a full service network. The platform estimates $2.6 million in yearly savings and up to 97% lower NOx emissions versus diesel,...
USA Rare Earth Hires Chaitan Kansal as Chief Commercial Officer to Drive Sales and Brand
USA Rare Earth announced the appointment of Chaitan Kansal as chief commercial officer, bringing more than 25 years of critical‑minerals and advanced‑materials experience. The hire follows the commissioning of Phase 1a NdFeB magnet production in Stillwater and a strategic stake in...
Integrated CX Teams Outperform Silos Amid Market Uncertainty
CMSWire released a new analysis that integrated customer‑experience (CX) teams deliver faster, more customer‑centric outcomes than traditional siloed groups. The piece cites military‑inspired “tiger teams” and multidisciplinary squads as the model for navigating today’s volatile market, signaling a shift that...
IMG Appoints Barney Francis as Chief Business Officer to Drive Growth
Global sports‑marketing firm IMG has installed Barney Francis as chief business officer and is creating a chief client & operations officer role to centralise its commercial and client functions. The moves come as the agency seeks to scale partnerships with...
Quantum AI Unveils quantumaieu.com to Boost European Market Presence
Quantum AI announced the launch of quantumaieu.com, replacing its former quantumai.co.com address to create a clearer European identity. The move is positioned as a step toward broader market penetration and partnership growth in Europe’s fast‑growing AI sector.
WPP Names Mark Taylor Chief People Officer, Shifts Marie-Claire Barker to Performance & Culture
WPP announced that Mark Taylor will become its global chief people officer while Marie-Claire Barker transitions to chief people officer, performance & culture. The moves are part of the agency’s Elevate28 overhaul aimed at building an AI‑first, high‑performance workforce.
Phygital Commerce Media with Liquid Death's Benoit Vatere
In this episode of the CPG Guys, Benoit Vatere, Chief Media Officer of Liquid Death, discusses how the brand leverages entertainment‑focused media to turn a commodity product—water—into a cult‑like cultural statement. He explains that by choosing the "unexpected" and comedic...
Unanet’s GrowthStudio AI Wins 2026 CUSTOMER Product of the Year Award
Unanet announced that its GrowthStudio AI platform for government contractors has been named the 2026 CUSTOMER Product of the Year. The award highlights the solution’s AI‑first approach to capture, proposal and growth automation, positioning it as a strategic tool for...
Marketers Question CDP Supremacy as AI, Zero‑Copy Strategies Gain Traction
A fresh CMSWire analysis spotlights a growing split among marketers over the relevance of traditional Customer Data Platforms. While CDPs have long promised a unified view of the customer, AI‑powered, zero‑copy and composable solutions are challenging that model, prompting CMOs...
MarTech Pioneer Scott Brinker Says AI Agents Will Redefine Marketing Strategy
In a CMSWire interview, Scott Brinker, the creator of the Martech Supergraphic, outlined four AI agent categories that are reshaping marketing technology. He warned that while internal AI copilots deliver short‑term gains, buyer‑controlled agents will drive long‑term disruption, forcing CMOs...
CMOs Turn to Pods and AI to Boost Marketing Agility
CMOs are redesigning marketing organizations around small, cross‑functional pods and AI‑driven tools to accelerate decision‑making and improve efficiency by up to 30%. The shift responds to heightened competitive pressure, data‑privacy demands and the need for measurable impact.
Kapture CX Appoints Nachiket Pathki as VP to Drive Global Expansion
Kapture CX announced the appointment of Nachiket Pathki as Vice President – International Growth. The veteran SaaS and AI leader will steer the company’s push into new markets and boost global revenue. The hire signals Kapture CX’s aggressive plan to...
Sportico Transactions: Moves and Mergers Roundup for April 17
The latest Sportico Transactions roundup highlights a wave of executive appointments across major sports entities, including Dan Schoenberg’s launch of Hummingbird Sports & Entertainment and Formula E’s hiring of Will Brown as chief commercial officer. Brands are deepening league ties, with Nike...
The Frustration of Diminishing Returns: How AI-Powered Fractional CMOs Unlock B2B SaaS Growth
AI adoption in B2B SaaS is widespread, yet only a sliver of firms translate it into revenue growth, exposing a costly implementation gap. Studies show 88% of companies use AI but just 5.5% reap meaningful financial returns, as most deployments...
Brands on Fire: Hyundai Motor America CMO Talks Data, Experiential, AI and Ecommerce
Hyundai Motor America launched its global "Next Starts Now" campaign at the New York International Auto Show, tying the brand to the upcoming FIFA World Cup and showcasing robotics like Boston Dynamics' Spot and its own Atlas humanoid. CMO Sean...
Target Launches $20% Target Circle Bonus Car Seat Trade‑in to Lure Parents
Target is running a bi‑annual Car Seat Trade‑In event from April 19 to May 2, giving parents a 20% Target Circle bonus on new gear. The move comes as comparable sales fell 2.5% and revenue slipped 1.5% year‑over‑year, prompting the retailer to...
Apple Marketing Veteran Ng Retires After 31-Year Career
Apple veteran marketing executive Stan Ng announced his retirement after a 31‑year tenure. Ng, who joined Apple in 1995 and later led marketing for the iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, health and smart‑home initiatives, was instrumental in launching the original iPod...
The Weekly Closeout: Allbirds’ ‘AI-Washing’ and Nike’s Ongoing Exec Turnover
Ulta Beauty named Agustina Sartori head of agentic commerce, signaling a push to embed AI into its loyalty and e‑commerce platforms. Meanwhile, Allbirds secured a $50 million investment and announced a dramatic pivot to AI compute infrastructure under the NewBird AI brand,...
ANA Opens Search For Liodice Successor
The Association of National Advertisers announced that longtime CEO Bob Liodice will step down at the end of 2026 and has launched a comprehensive search for his successor, following recent retirements and role changes among senior staff. Liodice will remain...
Stagwell Expands 'Owned Media' Management Team
Stagwell announced the creation of two senior roles—Chief Growth Officer and Chief Revenue Officer—filled by publishing veterans David Olesnevich and Drew Schutte. The hires follow Ben Berentson's appointment as CEO of Stagwell Owned Media and recent investments, including a 25%...
Marketers on the Move: Hires and Promotions at E.l.f, SharkNinja, LA Galaxy, and More
E.l.f. Beauty reshuffled its senior leadership this week, promoting longtime CMO Kory Marchisotto to the newly created President of E.l.f. Brands. The company also hired Oshiya Savur from Maesa as its new chief marketing officer. In addition, chief digital officer...
Origen Realty Appoints Poulomi Ray as Chief Marketing Officer
Origen Realty announced the appointment of Poulomi Ray as chief marketing officer. Ray brings close to two decades of experience in real‑estate and hospitality marketing, having held senior roles at Signature Global, DLF, Paras Buildtech, MGM International USA and Hilton...
On the Move: Stagwell Brings On Olesnevich, Schutte
Stagwell announced the appointment of David Olesnevich as Chief Growth Officer and Drew Schutte as Chief Revenue Officer for its Owned Media division, underscoring a push to scale assets like Ink, ReachTV and RealClearPolitics. At the same time, Spectrum Science...
DoorDash Unveils Three Data‑Driven Ad Tools, Claiming 14% Higher ROAS for Restaurants
DoorDash announced three new advertising products—Brand Interest Targeting, Brand Sales Growth and Average Ticket Sizing Reporting—designed to help restaurant partners acquire higher‑value customers. Early tests showed a 14% boost in return on ad spend and a 35% increase in average...
Benoit Vatere’s Case for Keeping Liquid Death Dangerous at Scale
Liquid Death’s chief media officer Benoit Vatere explains how the canned water brand is transitioning from a direct‑to‑consumer focus to a retail‑first strategy, using full‑funnel media to turn viral awareness into in‑store trial. He positions retail media networks as strategic...
Apple’s Longtime Watch, AirPods Marketing Chief Stan Ng Retires
NEW: Apple’s marketing chief for the Apple Watch, AirPods, Home and Health — Stan Ng — is retiring, the latest changing of the guard at the company. He’s been at Apple for 31 years and was a mainstay under both...
T‑Mobile Unifies Metro Prepaid with Main Brand
T-Mobile revamps prepaid brand to spruce up image: "This makes Metro and T-Mobile more of a continuum rather than two distinct brands." @Sheila_Dang https://t.co/Pq7lr8tUwW
Gen Z Perspectives: Nespresso SG Marketing Head Departs, Philips' Rice Cooker Typo & a Nigerian Prince
Nespresso Singapore’s marketing head, Peilin Lee, left after seven years to start a leadership‑development consultancy. Philips turned a product‑spec typo on its rice cooker into a generative‑AI image contest on Threads, offering a real unit as prize. Vaseline launched a...
KFC India Names Suhayl Limbada as New CMO to Accelerate Localized Growth
KFC India has appointed Suhayl Limbada as its chief marketing officer, succeeding Aparna Bhawal. The former Thailand CMO brings experience across Africa and Asia and will steer the brand’s push for localized campaigns in a market of more than 1.4 billion...
Dance Music Magazine Mixmag Appoints Culture-First Agency Noisy to Drive ANZ Growth
Mixmag ANZ, the world’s largest dance‑music magazine, has signed a partnership with culture‑first agency noisy to accelerate its growth across Australia and New Zealand. The deal covers content creation, brand campaigns and real‑world activations, linking Mixmag’s local audience to noisy’s nightlife...
BeReal Launches Creator Program to Lure Influencers and Advertisers
BeReal has begun a proactive outreach to U.S. influencers, offering verification and brand‑partner tools as part of a creator‑focused program. The move follows earlier pilots in France and Japan and comes as the app’s downloads fell 41% year‑over‑year in 2025.
Deputy Hires Alex Concannon as VP Global Marketing to Drive AI‑powered Shift‑work Growth
Deputy announced the appointment of Alex Concannon as Vice President, Global Marketing, alongside Creative Director Conor O’Sullivan. The hires are aimed at accelerating the company’s AI‑enabled shift‑work platform and expanding its brand worldwide.
Podcast: Weigel’s Winning Strategy
Weigel’s Director of Marketing & Merchandising, Nick Triantafellou, discussed the chain’s integrated foodservice and commissary program, its pioneering Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) initiative, a revamped loyalty platform, and a retail‑media network on the CStore Decisions podcast. The conversation highlighted how...
New Balance Promotes Tracy Knauer to SVP, North America Marketing & E-Commerce
New Balance Athletics, Inc. promoted Tracy Knauer to senior vice president of North America, elevating her from the VP role that managed marketing, e‑commerce and consumer analytics. Knauer has spent more than 20 years at the company across marketing, product, sales...