Cannes Lions launches first CMO global forum

A closed-door conversation focused on the issues shaping growth, brand and leadership today

Cannes Lions has announced the launch of its inaugural LIONS Global CMO Forum, a closed-door, CMO-only gathering designed to give the world’s most senior marketers a rare opportunity to engage in candid, peer-to-peer discussion on the issues shaping modern marketing leadership.

Taking place during the Festival, Wednesday 24 June from 2 to 5pm, at the Majestic Hotel, Cannes, the Forum is intentionally designed as a departure from traditional industry events. The Forum offers an opportunity to step back and engage deeply with peers facing shared challenges - from driving growth and proving effectiveness to balancing short-term performance with long-term brand building.

Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “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.”

What to expect

The Forum is built around interaction, not presentation, with a focus on meaningful dialogue among those shaping the future of marketing:

Peer-to-peer exchange: Open, candid discussion in a trusted, closed setting (Chatham House Rule).

Insights from the ANA | LIONS CMO Global Growth Council*: Including key themes from discussions chaired by P&G’s Marc Pritchard, with representation from leading global brands.

CEO perspectives: A unique opportunity to unpack insights from the LIONS Global CEO Forum happening Monday in Cannes and explore how CMOs can better influence business growth agendas, bringing together both sides of the leadership equation to align brand ambition with business growth.

Curated discussion topics, including:

• strengthening marketing’s influence within the C-suite
• balancing short-term performance with long-term brand building
• leveraging AI and emerging technology as a creative multiplier
• navigating the evolving scope and tenure of the CMO role
• the future of marketing talent – teams, roles and skills.

Forum details

Date: Wednesday 24 June Time: 2:00–5:00pm Location: Majestic Hotel, Cannes

Request an invitation (Attendance limited. For CMOs only): LionsCMOForum@lions.co