Strategic hiring for evolving CMO roles.
Smart CMOs mix ingredients, not fairy tales.
Yesterday, I met a friend and a founder, most of our conversation revolved around their struggle with its marketing leadership. He hired a CMO expecting him to drive revenue, build the brand, and nail product positioning, all at once. They wanted a unicorn.
Six months in, things weren’t working. Why? Because no one person can be everything a company needs at every stage.
A study by MIT Sloan Management Review found that CMOs require different skills depending on the company’s growth phase. That’s why it’s crucial to hire for the company’s current needs, not an impossible wish list.
The Three Pillars of Marketing
🔹 Revenue Marketing – Demand generation, pipeline management, analytics, and growth.
🔹 Corporate Marketing – Brand storytelling, PR, buzz creation, and emotional connection.
🔹 Product Marketing – Positioning, competitive analysis, customer insights, and messaging.
Expecting one CMO to master all three? Unrealistic. Most marketers have a Major in one, a Minor in another, and a Gap in the third. The key is identifying the most urgent need and hiring accordingly.
How CMO Needs Change Over Time
🔹 Early-Stage Companies: Need a growth-focused CMO who thrives in Revenue Marketing to drive demand.
🔹 Growth-Stage Companies: Shift toward Product Marketing to refine messaging and expand markets.
🔹 Established Companies: Prioritize Corporate Marketing to strengthen brand reputation and longevity.
This is why CMO turnover happens, it’s not always about failure. It’s about evolving priorities.
The New CMO Playbook: AI Skills Are Non-Negotiable
A 2025 report found that 90% of CMOs believe the lack of GenAI skills is a major barrier to success. The modern CMO must be an AI-savvy strategist, not just a marketing leader.
To stay relevant, today’s CMO must:
✔ Leverage AI for hyper-personalization – Data-driven insights are now table stakes.
✔ Automate operations – Free up human creativity by outsourcing repetitive tasks to AI.
✔ Maintain ethical AI oversight – Data privacy and bias must be managed responsibly.
The best CMO Isn’t a unicorn, they’re a smart builder
Rather than chasing an all-rounder, look for a CMO who can:
✅ Hire well – Build a team that fills their gaps.
✅ Lead with clarity – Align marketing with business goals.
✅ Adapt and evolve – Shift focus as the company’s priorities change.
The best CMOs are not rock stars. They’re strategic, adaptable, and AI-ready.