While the chief marketing officer (CMO) post isn’t about to disappear tomorrow, it’s impossible to ignore the mounting evidence of its steady erosion.
As ADWEEK reported in August, the average CMO tenure slipped from 4.1 years in 2024 to 3.9 years in 2025. Last year, 63% of Fortune 500 companies had CMOs—but in 2025, that figure had dropped by 5%.
It gets worse. A McKinsey paper released in June noted that “CFOs often view marketing as a cost center rather than an investment.” And 2025 data gathered by marketing firm Boathouse reveals that 14% of CEOs admit to having thought about eliminating the CMO’s position.
UNLOCK FULL ACCESS
Subscribe and get full access to the news, insights, and expertise that keep industry professionals ahead of the curve.
VIEW ALL SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS
This story first appeared in the Nov. 4, 2025 issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.
This story first appeared in the Nov. 4, 2025 issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.
