The Annual Report Reveals Shifting Priorities, Critical Skills and the Expanding Role of AI in Modern Marketing Leadership
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, USA, June 5, 2025 — CMSWire, the world’s leading community of customer experience and digital marketing professionals created by Simpler Media Group (SMG), today announced the release of the 2025 State of the CMO Report, offering an authoritative snapshot of the current marketing leadership landscape and the evolving expectations placed on chief marketing officers (CMOs).
In this year’s edition, CMSWire Insights gathered data and perspectives from more than 500 marketing leaders across a wide range of industries and organizational sizes. The findings provide a deep dive into how CMOs are navigating their roles amid rising market pressures, technological disruption and changing organizational dynamics.
Key takeaways from the 2025 report include:
- A clear set of common challenges: 10 key findings highlight the most prevalent trends and pressures CMOs face across industries.
- The rise of AI in marketing: A growing number of CMOs are embracing AI tools and automation to drive performance, with a focus on personalization, content creation and data-driven decision-making.
- New skill sets for success: Executive leadership increasingly values skills such as data literacy, cross-functional collaboration and technological fluency in future marketing leaders.
“The modern CMO role is being redefined by technological advancement and strategic realignment,” said Brice Dunwoodie, CEO of Simpler Media Group. “Marketing leaders today are not only brand stewards but also innovation catalysts. Our 2025 report underscores the need for CMOs to master AI-driven tools, integrate deeply with revenue and product teams and lead with agility.”
Sarah Kimmel, VP of Research at SMG, added: “CMOs are under pressure to deliver measurable impact faster than ever. Our research shows a significant increase in the adoption of AI and automation across marketing functions — a trend that’s reshaping how leaders allocate resources and define success.”
The full report offers detailed data analysis, commentary from marketing executives and recommendations for aligning marketing strategy with emerging business needs.
Readers interested in exploring the insights shaping the future of marketing leadership can purchase the full report at store.simplermedia.com. A free executive summary is also available at cmswire.com.
About Simpler Media Group
Publishing
Simpler Media Group (SMG) is a B2B technology information and research services company serving a 7 million+ strong community of global digital business leaders. Our mission: advance the careers of our members through top-tier knowledge and networking. Our flagship publication, CMSWire, is complemented by Reworked, which focuses on the employee experience, and VKTR, dedicated to enterprise AI.
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SMG’s research division publishes annual industry benchmark reports, market guides, and focused insights briefs. We offer performance marketing, custom research, content development, and event production services to our enterprise clients.
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SMG’s annual IMPACT Awards recognize outstanding achievement in customer and employee experience, with honors for both practitioners and vendors.
