The 2026 CMO Playbook: AI, Trust and Growth at Speed

Marketing is entering its most transformational era. In 2026, CMOs are expected to deliver growth while rebuilding trust, modernising data strategies, and integrating AI into every part of the marketing machine, without losing what makes a brand distinctive and authentic. This panel brings together leading CMOs to share what’s working now: how they’re deploying AI responsibly, shifting from channel optimisation to customer-system optimisation, rebalancing brand and performance, and proving impact with better measurement and governance. Expect candid lessons, practical frameworks, and a few contrarian views on what to stop doing in the year ahead.