CMO Council talk transcript

It’s available for unrestricted download here…

The paper on the Insanity of Marketing, which I referred to, is here (one-time registration required, or just login).

CMO Summit thoughts

Last week I was at the CMO Summit, run by the CMO Council Europe, in the splendid Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin. I'll post some of my more detailed thoughts on specific presentations shortly. But the overall impression is that the quality of presenters and attendees was very high. From Malcolm MacDonald to David Haigh of Brand Finance, the first day was top notch, and I learned a lot.


I'm usually very sceptical towards the value of conferences, as they tend to be vendor-sponsorred pitching opportunities. But at the CMO Summit there was very little pitch, and it created a rare occassion for CMOs to gather as a community.


I gave an after-dinner talk on why marketing is insane and what to do about it - transcript to be posted soon.


The lasting impression of the Summit is that I had planned to be tough on marketers and marketing - "you're insane..." and all that. But more than a few presenters beat me to it. There is an apparent consensus amongst commentators on marketing that there is a lot of nonsense and poor practice in the industry.


Will, or can, marketers change old habits and mindsets?

CMO Council Summit talk

I suppose these days I should refer to this as a "gig." But I just can't shake the image of rock stars in leather trousers. I digress.

I'm invited to address the CMO Council's Summit next week in Berlin - I'm in the after-dinner slot. It's a great opportunity to meet lots of Marketing chiefs in one place - should be a good event.

If you're going, let me know - perhaps we can hook up.