The CMO Podcast

What does it take to turn a simple drink into a global cultural phenomenon? This week Jim welcomes Allison Varone, the Head of Marketing at Campari America, to unpack the strategy behind one of the most impressive modern brand growth stories. From the rise of Aperol Spritz to the expansion of non-alcoholic options, the Campari Group has become one of the world’s leading spirits companies, with a portfolio of more than 50 premium and super-premium brands, from aperitifs, tequila, whiskey, rum, to cognac. Campari has grown into a $9 billion global player, built on a portfolio of premium brands that have become part of many people’s everyday rituals and celebrations.   Allison leads marketing for the entire U.S. portfolio, including overseeing brand strategy, consumer engagement, innovation, and integrated campaigns across Campari’s range of brands. She’s also deeply involved in shaping how these brands show up in culture, from major moments like Coachella and the U.S. Open,  to celebrating the everyday ritual of the aperitivo hour. Alison joined Campari in 2024, after nearly 12 years at LVMH, where she led marketing across some of the most admired luxury brands in the world, including Hennessy, Moët & Chandon, and Belvedere.  Before that, she spent an eventful six years in the early 2000s at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Tune in for a conversation with a marketing leader who showcases how she balances heritage with innovation, through shaping the future of cocktail culture, consumer connection, and brand storytelling. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Long before our guest this week became the CMO of Levi’s, he was rocking the brand as a kid, breakdancing with his brother in shell-toe Adidas and Levi’s denim. Fast forward a few decades, and he’s now leading one of the most admired brands in the world. This week Jim welcomes Kenny Mitchell, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of the Levi’s brand at Levi Strauss & Co. The legacy brand was founded in 1853 by Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss during the California Gold Rush. Originally designed as durable workwear for laborers, now 173 years later, it is the market leader in denim apparel, generating more than $6 billion in annual revenue. Kenny joined Levi’s in 2023 after serving as CMO of Snap Inc., bringing with him a track record of driving growth and cultural relevance. Since joining, he’s been focused on creating “modern-day moments” for the brand, connecting Levi’s legacy to today’s culture, from high-impact partnerships to the brand’s return to the Super Bowl with its “Behind Every Original” campaign. Previously, he has held senior marketing roles at McDonald’s U.S., Gatorade, and NASCAR.  Tune in for a conversation about growth, culture, and leadership, and what it really takes to move a brand, and an organization, forward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If the role of a CMO is to make a brand interesting, why does so much marketing today feel anything but? This week Jim sits down with Nick Law, Creative Strategy & Experience Lead of Accenture Song, the $20 billion creative services division of Accenture, to explore what’s gone wrong in modern marketing, and what leaders need to do to fix it. In 2019,  Accenture Song (then called Accenture Interactive) purchased the highly awarded and fast-growing creative agency droga 5. Teaser alert: its founder, David Droga, is a big reason Nick is now at Accenture Song.  Nick’s journey is anything but traditional. He began his career in trade school in Randwick, Australia, before rising through the creative ranks, where he spent 17+ years at R/GA during its most innovative era, a stint at Apple as VP of Marketing Integration, and now helping shape one of the most expansive creative organizations in the world. Today, at Accenture Song, he works across marketing, design, commerce, and customer experience, bringing together systems and storytelling at scale. Tune in for a conversation about creativity, leadership, and the evolving role of marketing in an increasingly complex world, and what it really takes to build brands that people care about. — Learn more, request a free pass, and register at iab.com/ccs  Promo Code for $150 off ticket prices: CMOPODCCS26 — This week's episode is brought to you by IAB. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you think the biggest growth opportunity in marketing is Gen Z, Millennials, or Gen Alpha, this episode may change your mind. We kick off a special monthly series focused on how marketers approach different generations, starting with Gen X and Baby Boomers. To explore the 50+ audience, Jim welcomes Brent Rivard, CEO and co-founder of Geezer Creative, an agency built around one bold premise: the marketing industry has been ignoring consumers who represent an $8 trillion opportunity. Gen X and Boomers control roughly 70% of disposable income in the U.S., yet most brands remain obsessively focused on youth. Gen X alone outspends Gen Z by multiples in categories like alcohol, while affluent 50+ consumers are driving massive growth in travel, wellness, longevity, and lifestyle spending. Brent studied at the Ivey Business School in Ontario and went on to spend two decades at top agencies, including BBDO, Anomaly, Doner, and Lowe Roche. After a stint as a CMO, he founded Geezer Creative in 2024 to help brands reposition themselves for what he believes is the most overlooked and fastest-growing audience in North America. Tune in for a conversation with an advocate fighting for smarter audience choices in advertising. — Learn more, request a free pass, and register at iab.com/ccs   Promo Code for $150 off ticket prices: CMOPODCCS26 — This week's episode is brought to you by IAB. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More and more CMOs are ascending to the CEO role. Starbucks, Hinge, Revlon, Avon, and Brinker International are all companies that have elevated former CMOs to CEO. Joining Jim this week is a guest who joins that group. Diana Haussling is the Chief Executive Officer of hello, the bold, happy, design-forward oral care brand. Founded in 2012 by Craig Dubitsky with the goal of being a “friendly” alternative in the market, hello was acquired by Colgate in early 2020 for a reported $351 million. Today, hello products are found in over 55,000 retail stores across the U.S. Before stepping into the CEO role, Diana served for four years as Chief Marketing Officer for North America at Colgate, where she led Marketing, Digital Commerce, and Direct-to-Consumer. Her career also includes roles at three other Fortune 500 companies: Campbell’s, General Mills, and The Hershey Company. Tune in for a conversation with a leader who speaks candidly about insecurity, ambition, and why learning to talk about your strengths isn’t bragging, but necessary. — Learn more, request a free pass, and register at iab.com/ccs  Promo Code for $150 off ticket prices: CMOPODCCS26 — This week's episode is brought to you by IAB. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.