Cannes Lions launches first CMO global forum

Cannes Lions has introduced the LIONS Global CMO Forum, a closed-door gathering bringing together senior marketing leaders to discuss issues shaping growth, brand building and leadership.

The session will take place during the Cannes Lions Festival and is designed exclusively for chief marketing officers.

The Forum will be held on Wednesday 24 June from 2:00 to 5:00pm at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes. It is structured as a CMO-only environment, with a focus on peer discussion rather than formal presentations, and will operate under the Chatham House Rule to encourage open exchange among participants.

CMO Forum set for Cannes Lions Festival

Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS: “CMOs today are navigating more complexity and scrutiny than ever before – expected to drive immediate results while building brands that endure. Yet too often, the industry creates spaces where they are spoken at, rather than heard. The LIONS Global CMO Forum has been designed to change that. It’s a closed, trusted environment where the world’s leading marketers can speak candidly with one another, challenge thinking, and gain perspectives that are directly relevant to their roles. By bringing together insights from both the LIONS CEO Forum and the ANA | LIONS CMO Global Growth Council, we’re creating a space where marketing leaders can better understand, and influence, the business agenda.”

The initiative draws on input from the ANA | LIONS CMO Global Growth Council, chaired by P&G’s Marc Pritchard, alongside perspectives from the LIONS CEO Forum, which convenes during the Festival earlier in the week. The aim is to connect marketing leadership discussions more directly with wider business priorities.

Focus on peer exchange and leadership challenges

The Forum will centre on structured peer-to-peer dialogue among CMOs, covering themes such as strengthening marketing’s influence within executive teams, balancing short-term performance with long-term brand investment, and applying AI and emerging technologies within marketing functions. It will also address the changing scope of the CMO role and the evolution of marketing talent, including team structures and skills requirements.

Participation is limited to senior marketing leaders, with the format designed to prioritise discussion over presentation and to align marketing perspectives with broader business strategy conversations taking place across Cannes Lions.

www.canneslions.com

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