Club CMO Summit 2025
09 Sep 2025
Summit in Chicago, IL, USA
Club CMO 2025 Summit brings together prominent B2B and B2C marketing leaders for two days of marketing strategy, leadership development, and meaningful connections. Hosted at the historic University Club in Chicago, September 9th and 10th, marketing executives will gather to share ideas, best practices, and experiences – sparking new ideas and tackling marketing’s biggest challenges.
CONNECT. INNOVATE. GROW.
CMOs from across the country will gather September 9th and 10th, 2025 to share ideas, best practices, and experiences at Club CMO Summit in Chicago.
Featured CMOs and industry experts from leading brands will foster strategic conversation to spark new ideas and tackle marketing’s biggest challenges. Be inspired by executive marketing peers, compelling keynotes, panel conversations, and interactive discussions. With opportunities to cultivate relationships and share ideas, the most interesting content may come from from more than a keynote but sparked from the peers you meet.
Register Before July 31st & Save $350
Club CMO, an Inspire Leadership Network Community is the preeminent peer leadership network of Chief Marketing Officers. Approaching 2,000 members across more than 40 local chapters, Inspire members serve in c-level leadership of public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and non-profit institutions. Inspire exists to help leaders thrive in today’s most challenging executive roles.
Who Should Attend
Summit is open to active Club CMO members and non-members who are the “CMO” (top marketing executive, regardless of title) of an organization or division with greater than $100 million in annual revenue. Learn more about membership.
Companies interested in underwriting or partner opportunitie: Learn more and inquire here.
WHEN
Tuesday, September 9th 2025
Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
WHERE
University Club of Chicago
76 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603
LODGING
The following lodging options are within walking distance of the event:
Chicago Athletic Association-The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
(2-minute walk)
12 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
The Palmer House – A Hilton Hotel
(3-minute walk)
17 E Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
Hampton Inn Majestic Chicago Theatre District | Hyatt Centric
(4-minute walk)
22 W Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Francis Perrin
Chief Brand & Sustainability Officer – Rehklo
Jennifer Healan
VP U.S. Marketing, Brand, Content & Culture – McDonald’s
Sarah Paulsen
Global Head, Agency Transformation & Innovation – Kimberly-Clark
Richard Sanderson
Marketing Practice Leader – Spencer Stuart
Helena Verellen
CMO – The Second City
Alison Hiatt
CMO – Vera Bradley
Dr. Marcus Collins
Best-Selling Author & Professor, University of Michigan
Alan Hart
CMO, Marketing Strategy – Deloitte
Matt Sutton
SVP, Head of Marketing – Columbia
Kristen Delphos
VP Communications & Public Affairs – UL Research Institutes
Lee Roth
Co-Founder – The Actionists
Kimberley Gardiner
SVP & CMO – Tractor Supply Co.
Steve Connell
Acclaimed Spoken Word Artist
Axel Kirstetter
Vice President, Global Product Marketing – Guidewire Software
John Alvarado
Chief Brands Officer – Beam Suntory
Gina McDuffie
CMO, SmartSource
AGENDA
| TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH | ||
| 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Member Workshop – Brand U | Hosted by The CMO Coaches Kip Knight Babs Rangaiah |
| 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Check-in & Registration | |
| 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Welcome Reception | |
| WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH | ||
| 7:00 am – 8:30 am | Welcome Breakfast | |
| 8:30 am – 11:30 am | Kick-off | |
| Ignore the Haters – Embrace the Fans: Taking Big Swings that Grow Business | JJ Hearn VP Brand, Content & Culture – McDonald’s Lee Roth Co-Founder – The Actionists | |
| Keynote The Artist & The Engineer | Dr. Marcus Collins Best selling Author & Professor, Univ. of Michigan | |
| From Kohler to Rehlko: Rebranding as a Catalyst for Transformation | Francis Perrin CMO – Rehlko Kristen Delphos CMO – UL Research Institutes | |
| Networking Break | ||
| Yes, And: Building the Super Skills That Power High-Impact Teams | Helena Verellen Interim CMO, The Second City | |
| How to Lose Your Customers and Become Irrelevant A cautionary tale and how to become relevant again | Allison Hiatt CMO – Vera Bradley Matt Sutton SVP – Columbia Sportswear | |
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Connect Lunch | |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Solutions Breakout Sessions | Interactive small group sessions |
| 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Keynote The Future of Marketing Leadership | Richard Sanderson Marketing, Communications & Sales Practice Leader Spencer Stuart |
| Brand Management Transformation: Aligning Creativity, Tech & Performance | Sarah Paulson Sr. Director, Global Creative Content & Design Kimberly Clark Kimberley Gardiner SVP & CMO Tractor Supply Co. | |
| Brand vs. Demand: How B2B CMOs Adapt Their Org to Embrace AI and Grow | Axel Kirsteter Vice President, Global Product Marketing – Guidewire Software Gina McDuffie CMO, SmartSource | |
| 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Networking Reception | |
| 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Dinner + Exciting Surprises | Not to be missed – evening session |
SUMMIT PARTNERS
