The changing Chief Marketing Officer role
According to a recent study, the average tenure of a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is now just 40 months. The lowest level in more than a decade. So, what is affecting this key role and how can candidates make the most of these changes?
The study’s findings
Another key takeout from this study was the widening gap between CMO and CEO tenure, which has increased in the past year. CEO tenure has risen to an average of 85 months, but this is partly because boards decided that stability was needed for this role during the pandemic, whereas CEOs looked for innovative approaches and sector disruption from their CMOs. In fact, external hires were said to have increased from 37% in 2020 to 45% in 2021. And, for the first time since this study began, female CMOs now outnumber their male counterparts, at 51%, and 71% of new hires were women. While more still needs to be done to support minority ethnic groups into senior leadership roles, representation increased from 11% to 18%.
What clients are looking for
While we see a trend to play with the role title in order to signal an organisation’s new priorities, as shown in The Marketoonist’s latest ‘Chief Something Officer’ post (also published by Marketing Week), there are consistent attributes that clients are looking for. To begin with, significant strategic experience is essential as CMOs are called upon to develop and deliver sector-disruptive strategies, and to champion the customer. There is also an expectation that CMOs will have substantial digital knowledge to harness opportunities, ensure return on investment, and oversee their team with an insightful and analytical approach. Finally, clients are calling for leadership skills that bring empathy, clear communication, and curiosity to the team.
Our top tips for candidates
If you feel ready to take the next step in your career, there are several ways that you can prepare for the recruitment process. From updating your LinkedIn profile to writing a stand-out CV, polishing your interview skills to considering what you really want from your career. We recommend spending some time to review where you are at in your career, where you want to go, and what is truly important to you. These are unprecedented times for recruitment, with numerous choices for candidates, and we appreciate that many are now looking for purpose and joy in their working lives. There has not been a better time to make this happen.
For more information or to get started in your search for a new role, please get in touch or connect with us/send a message on LinkedIn.
With warmest regards,
the Suzie Walker Executive Search team
Suzie Walker Executive Search is a firm of specialist headhunters with an expert team recruiting interim and permanent senior leaders for marketing and digital roles in consumer-facing FTSE 350 and private equity-backed companies. Find out how we can support you by connecting with a Consultant below.
