CEO Trust in CMOs Grows, But Strategic Impact and Innovation Lag

A new study reveals increased CEO confidence in CMOs' leadership but highlights declining perceptions of their ability to drive growth and adapt to AI-driven transformation.

• The Boathouse CEO Study shows 45% of CEOs now consider their CMO 'best in class,' up from 21% in 2021, reflecting improved trust and recognition.
• Despite this trust, only 19% of CEOs rate CMOs highly for driving growth, a significant drop from 31% last year, signaling a disconnect in strategic impact.
• Marketing's AI adoption has fallen sharply, with the function dropping from the top AI user last year to eighth place, raising concerns about innovation and competitiveness.
• Half of CMOs remain sidelined in operational roles rather than being integrated into core growth strategies, limiting their influence on business transformation.
• Cultural challenges persist, with 65% of CEOs citing employee morale and organizational health as critical issues, underscoring a need for CMOs to align marketing with broader company priorities.

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