LIONS brings CMO Accelerator to five cities

The two-day programmes will bring the leadership initiative to regional marketing communities while connecting local insights with the global CMO network.

LIONS is taking its CMO Accelerator programme beyond Cannes Lions with five City Editions planned across Los Angeles, Singapore, New York, São Paulo and London between September and November 2026.

The two-day programmes will bring the leadership initiative to regional marketing communities while connecting local insights with the global CMO network.

Following pilot editions in São Paulo and London in 2025, the in-person programmes will apply the CMO Accelerator model developed at Cannes Lions over more than a decade in partnership with Jim Stengel, former Global Marketing Officer at Procter & Gamble. Each edition will be adapted to its local market and led by senior marketing executives.

LIONS CMO Accelerator launches five city editions

Gaelle Comte, SVP, LIONS Learning: "The CMO Accelerator has built real momentum at Cannes Lions because it gives senior marketers time to step back, compare decisions with peers and sharpen how they lead. Bringing that experience into cities means more leaders can access it in a setting that reflects their own market, while still connecting into a broader global programme. It also allows us to stay closer to CMOs and aspiring CMOs throughout the year, strengthen regional communities and ensure the leadership dialogue we're building continues to evolve - both locally and at Cannes Lions."

The City Editions are designed to make LIONS' evidence, capabilities and networks available throughout the year while reflecting the priorities of individual markets. Insights and leadership discussions from the regional programmes will also feed into Cannes Lions.

Senior marketers to lead regional CMO programmes

Los Angeles will host the first edition on 23-24 September. Patricia Corsi, Chief Growth Officer at Kimberly-Clark, and Renata Ferraiolo, EVP and President, International Markets at SC Johnson, will lead the programme. OUTFRONT Media will host, with the ANA as marketing partner and Profound as sponsor.

Singapore will host its edition on 15-16 October, led by Siew Ting Foo, CEO of Soul for Profit Advisory and former Global Chief Brand and Insights Officer at HP Inc. The programme is partnered with Spikes Asia and sponsored by Maker Lab.

CMO Accelerator connects regional and global leaders

The New York edition will take place on 5-6 November, with Mark Kirkham, CMO of PepsiCo Beverages US, serving as Programme Director. Havas will host, while the ANA and ACA will act as marketing partners. QUILT and Profound will sponsor the programme.

São Paulo will host its edition on 16-17 November, led by Fernando Machado, Chief Brand Officer at Chipotle. Netflix will host the programme, with ESPM and Meio & Mensagem as marketing partners.

London will conclude the 2026 series on 25-26 November. Mark Evans, former MD, Marketing and Digital at Direct Line and an executive coach to CMOs, will lead the programme. Virgin will host the edition, with Profound as sponsor.

www.canneslions.com

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