10 CMOs Set To Make Waves in 2026

2025 was a carousel of chief advertising officer (CMO) exits, arrivals, and shake-ups that saved the promoting world on its toes.Whereas the CMO door retains revolving, 2026 will as soon as once more see advertising bosses challenged by geopolitical upheaval and squeezed shopper spend. There may even be alternatives, together with the FIFA 26 World Cup and a buzzy M&A market. AI development might be a double-edged sword, making it simpler for manufacturers to attach with audiences whereas additionally elevating questions concerning the human price of the tech. For entrepreneurs at a few of the world’s most talked-about manufacturers, the following 12 months will check how properly they will adapt, innovate, and lead.With that in thoughts, ADWEEK is spotlighting 10 CMOs value watching in 2026.Some are setting the tone for challenger manufacturers. Others are steering their groups into unfamiliar territory. A number of are tasked with modernizing legacy companies and some are defining what management appears like in new roles.Scroll all the way down to see who’s on the listing for 2026. Ahmed Iqbal, CMO, Cadillac F1 As Cadillac Formulation 1’s first-ever CMO, Iqbal arrives at a second of peak momentum for the game, with international curiosity surging due to a nail-biting 2025 Grand Prix and Netflix’s fly-on-the-wall documentary sequence, Drive to Survive. The CMO joins on the again of McLaren’s dominant run, elevating each the stakes and the expectations for the challenger.In 2026, Iqbal’s process might be to outline what Cadillac stands for in a crowded, fast-moving F1 panorama. He’ll must translate the model’s American heritage into international relevance whereas constructing credibility with followers who’re already deeply invested within the sport.Jill Kramer, CMCO, Mastercard Former Accenture advertising boss Jill Kramer steps into the chief advertising and communications (CMCO) function at Mastercard following one of many longest and most influential CMO tenures within the trade, taking up from Raja Rajamannar. Her arrival marks a second of transition for a model lengthy related to consistency, cultural credibility, and the enduring energy of its “Priceless” platform. In 2026, Kramer’s problem might be evolving Rajamannar’s legacy, and holding Mastercard culturally related and modern whereas defending its model fairness. Per figures from Interbrand, Accenture’s model worth nearly doubled from $12 billion to $20.9 billion over the near-decade Kramer was CMCO there. Previous to that, she held senior roles at BBDO and DDB, the place she led campaigns for manufacturers similar to AT&T and ExxonMobil.Jon Halvorson, Chief Digital and Advertising and marketing Officer, KenvueIn October, Tylenol maker Kenvue gave Jon Halvorson the decision. The enterprise was reeling after a September press convention during which well being secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., buttressed by President Trump, implied a hyperlink between autism and acetaminophen, the lively ingredient in Tylenol. Regardless of the medical institution lengthy discrediting such hyperlinks, on the identical day, Kenvue reported Q3 gross sales down 3.5%, and some weeks later, Kimberly-Clark introduced it had acquired Kenvue for practically $49 billion.Kenvue is betting that with expertise spanning Starcom MediaVest, GM, and Mondelez—the place he led AI adoption—Halvorson brings the advertising and messaging chops wanted to reassure customers. As Trump and RFK proceed to make main modifications to pharma promoting, and a lawsuit from Texas Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton looms, Halvorson has a difficult 2026 forward. Kate Rouch, CMO, OpenAI OpenAI’s new CMO Kate Rouch.That is Rouch’s second 12 months on ADWEEK’s CMOs to look at listing.In 2025, Rouch’s impression noticed the AI challenger dive into mass advertising for ChatGPT and its different merchandise. The corporate marketed within the Tremendous Bowl earlier this 12 months with a 60-second spot from Droga5 that recounted the historical past of human innovation, and focused school college students with a smaller marketing campaign throughout last examination season. In June, the exec took momentary depart following a breast most cancers prognosis, with former Fb CMO Gary Briggs taking the advertising reins within the interim. Rouch returned in November, sharing the information that she was cancer-free. In 2026, the previous Coinbase CMO might want to construct on the momentum round ChatGPT’s first huge emotional advert marketing campaign, which demonstrates how the AI chatbot is beneficial in relatable, day by day moments. Within the coming 12 months, Rouch may even assist the enterprise market blockbuster partnerships with Disney and Mattel, and proceed to fulfill the problem of constructing model belief in a world nonetheless cautious of AI.Marian Lee, CMO, Netflix Netflix’s Marian Lee can be marking her second 12 months on this listing. Lee’s advertising ethos, the place tradition is the “principal character,” has put Netflix on the map as one of many buzziest and artistic manufacturers of 2025. Within the final 12 months, the platform has launched IRL campaigns for shock hit film KPop Demon Hunters and introduced manufacturers like Gatorade into the Upside Down for the ultimate season of Stranger Issues.It additionally opened the doorways to 2 Netflix Homes in Dallas and Philadelphia, the place followers can discover, style, play, and store their favourite reveals, from Bridgerton to Cash Heist. Lee will play a key function in 2026 as Netflix cozies as much as manufacturers, together with AB InBev, for partnerships linked to its rising advert tier, which now counts nearly 100 million subscribers. She’ll additionally proceed to assist the corporate increase its viewers past films and sequence into gaming, dwell sports activities, and extra. Looming largest on the horizon is Netflix’s push to shut its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Slated for late 2026, the transfer might deliver iconic movie franchises, together with Harry Potter, and huge studio capabilities into the streamer’s fold. If authorized, it’s going to reshape not solely Netflix’s content material arsenal however how Lee positions the streamer in tradition and Hollywood.Marcel Marcondes, International CMO, AB InBevOver the final 18 months, Marcondes has flipped AB InBev’s advertising mannequin to place a “disproportionate” quantity of spend behind its grasp manufacturers and double down on culture-first advertising.In 2025, that technique gained momentum. Mixed, Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, and Michelob Extremely now symbolize round 57% of the brewer’s income and account for 8 of the highest 10 most beneficial beer manufacturers on this planet, per Kantar. Megabrand revenues had been up 3% in Q3, driving AB InBev’s general 0.9% development.In 2026, a few of the brewer’s manufacturers are poised to go huge for Tremendous Bowl 60 (although it has not formally revealed its plans but). The corporate can be a FIFA 26 World Cup sponsor and the official beer companion of the Winter Olympics, the VMAs, and the Grammys.The approaching 12 months may even see AB InBev combine beers similar to Bud Gentle and Stella into Netflix reveals like The Gents. This collaboration will lengthen off-screen to packs, too, as a part of a historic multi-year partnership between the 2 manufacturers designed to achieve audiences more and more proof against conventional advertisements. The following 12 months are shaping as much as be spectacularly busy for the enterprise, and Marcondes might be tasked with making certain AB InBev’s grasp manufacturers are prime of thoughts in tradition and on cabinets all over the world.Manu Orssaud, CMO, DuolingoWhen Duolingo declared itself “AI-first” in April, the transfer signaled a structural shift in how the corporate approaches product, content material, and advertising. It additionally invited scrutiny. A subsequent memo from CEO Luis von Ahn linking hiring to AI capability sparked backlash and raised questions on people’ function within the model’s future. In September, Duolingo confirmed its AI investments hadn’t led to any full-time staff being laid off. As a substitute, AI is boosting human productiveness, von Ahn mentioned at Quick Firm’s Innovation Competition.Because the model’s CMO Manu Orssaud appears forward to 2026, his process might be scaling up its AI advertising instruments whereas driving sustained subscriber development, all whereas holding on to the model character that made Duolingo culturally iconic. Meghan Imbres, CMO, PelotonMegan Imbres is Peloton’s chief advertising officer (CMO).In June 2025, Megan Imbres turned Peloton’s fourth CMO since 2020.The previous Apple, Amazon, and Netflix exec changed Lauren Weinberg, who left in April after the advertising and comms capabilities had been break up.Peloton has had a difficult few years, however in Q3 it stunned Wall Road by posting a revenue regardless of falling subscriber numbers and a 37% lower to its advertising price range.We’ve not seen a tentpole inventive marketing campaign from Imbres but, however 2026 is likely to be the 12 months, following the model’s AI-powered September product relaunch, which embedded the tech into its health merchandise to customise particular person exercise applications.Tamika Younger, CMCO, Hinge In December, Hinge named a brand new CMCO in Tamika Younger, who joined the enterprise as svp, international communications in 2023 from Netflix. Hinge’s former CMO, Jackie Jantos, was promoted to CEO after founder Justin McLeod left to launch Overtone, an AI-powered courting app.As she provides advertising to her communications accountability, Younger might be tasked with constructing on the success of Jantos’ most high-profile campaigns, together with Hinge’s international trademarked “Designed to Be Deleted” positioning, which remodeled it from a swipe-culture novelty into one outlined by extra significant connections. She’ll even be working alongside a CEO who understands and champions the worth of promoting.Younger’s appointment comes as Hinge’s month-to-month income overtakes its largest, rival Bumble, and as 78% of U.S. courting app customers say they’ve skilled courting app fatigue.Todd Kaplan, CMO, Kraft Heinz In his first full 12 months main advertising for Kraft Heinz’s 200-strong portfolio of manufacturers, Todd Kaplan has pushed the legacy CPG past its consolation zone with culturally related advertising.First got here Heinz’s collaboration with producer Mustard (full with a 30-second spot in the course of the Grammy Awards and social extensions tied to an IRL, limited-edition mustard product). Heinz additionally labored with Rethink on its enjoyable “Seems to be Acquainted” advertisements, which highlighted the uncanny resemblance between the sauce maker’s iconic brand and fry bins utilized by eating places all over the world.In 2026, the $29 billion firm will break up into two public entities: International Style Elevation, which is able to home sauces and spreads, and North American Grocery Co., encompassing cabinet staples like Oscar Mayer and Lunchables. Submit-split, Kaplan’s future title and portfolio stay unannounced. Nonetheless, this 12 months he’ll be tasked with defining how Kraft Heinz’s new advertising playbook interprets throughout the 2 new corporations earlier than the reorganization is full.