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.
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-partner opportunities: 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
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
Todd Johnson
Head of Industry Dining – TikTok
Alan Hart
CMO, Marketing Strategy – Deloitte
Matt Sutton
SVP, Head of Marketing – Columbia
Kristen Delphos
VP Communications & Public Affairs – UL Research Institutes
Mark Messing
Vice President, Global Digital Marketing – Dominos
Lee Roth
Co-Founder – The Actionists
Kimberley Gardiner
SVP & CMO – Tractor Supply Co.
Bonin Bough
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Group Black
Axel Kirstetter
Vice President, Global Product Marketing – Guidewire Software
Gina McDuffie
CMO – The SmartSource
Michael Phelan
Principal – Go To Market Pros
Mike Linton
Host – CMO Confidential Podcast, Adjunct Prof. – Case Western Reserve University
Kip Knight
Operating Partner -Thomvest & Founder – CMO Coaches
Patrick Ward
Director, Institutional Marketing – Vanguard
AGENDA
| TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH | ||
| 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Member Workshop – Brand U | Hosted by The CMO Coaches Kip Knight Mike Linton |
| 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Check-in & Registration | |
| 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Networking Reception | |
| WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10TH | ||
| 7:00 am – 8:30 am | Welcome Breakfast | |
| 8:30 am – 11:30 am | MAINSTAGE SESSION I | Summit Kick-off |
| Ignore the Haters – Embrace the Fans: Taking Big Swings that Grow Business | JJ Healan VP Brand, Content & Culture – McDonald’s — Pio Schunkar Co-Founder – The Actionists | |
CMO as Change Agent Leading Boldly in Times Like These | Bonin Bough Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer – Group Black | |
| From Kohler to Rehlko: Rebranding as a Catalyst for Transformation | Francis Perrin CMO – Rehlko — Kristen Delphos CMO – UL Research Institutes | |
| Networking Break | ||
Re-inventing Relevance : How Vera Bradley & Columbia honor loyal fans and reach new ones to balance legacy with growth. | Allison Hiatt CMO – Vera Bradley — Matt Sutton SVP – Columbia Sportswear | |
| Yes, And: Building the Super Skills That Power High-Impact Teams | Tyler Dean Kemp Creative Director of Second City Works | |
| Brand vs. Demand: How B2B CMOs Are Adapting Their Org to Embrace AI and Grow | Axel Kirsteter Vice President, Global Product Marketing – Guidewire Software — Patrick Ward Director, Institutional Marketing – The Vanguard Group — Gina McDuffie CMO – The SmartSource | |
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Connect Lunch | |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Solutions Breakout Sessions | Interactive Professional Development Workshops | Breakout #1 – High-Intent, Low Results? Proven Plays to Engage Customers and Prospects. Led by: Michael Phelan – Principal, Go To Market Pros & Andrew Phelps – CEO, IncentivePilot — Breakout #2 – Horizontal Branding: Turn fragmented experiences into a unified strategy for lasting growth. Led by: Pio Shankur & Lee Roth – Co-founders, The Actionists — Breakout #3 – CMO-Led AI Strategy: Adjusting to AI Agents Led by: Peter Caron – VP Data Science, UBIX & Marshall Poindexter – Fr. CMO & Head, Client Success YorCMO |
| 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm | MAINSTAGE SESSION II | Welcome Back |
| A New Vision – Building Community & Recognition for CMOs | Jonathan Frye President – Inspire Leadership Network — Frank Bell Co-Founder, Chief Creative Officer – Inspire Leadership Network | |
The Numbers Behind the Role: Compensation, Influence, and CMO Leadership in 2025 | Richard Sanderson Marketing, Communications & Sales Practice Leader – Spencer Stuart — Alan Hart Partner & CMO, Customer Growth, Experience and Marketing Strategy – Deloitte Digital | |
| Brand Management Transformation: Aligning Creativity, Tech & Performance | Sarah Paulson Sr. Director, Global Creative Content & Design – Kimberly Clark — Kimberley Gardiner SVP & CMO – Tractor Supply Co. — Lee Roth Co-Founder – The Actionists | |
| Networking Break | ||
| TikTok to Takeout: How Domino’s Taps Culture to Drive Commerce | Todd Johnson Head of Industry Dining, TikTok — Mark Messing Vice President of Global Digital Marketing – Dominos — Manny Rodriquez CMO – UC Health | |
| Building a Culture of AI | Bill Benjamin Partner – Institute for Health & Human Potential | |
| 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Networking Reception | |
| 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Dinner + Exciting Surprises | Evening Session & Summit Wrap-Up |
SUMMIT PARTNERS
