Being the CMO for CMOs and showcasing Alibaba’s technology innovations to the world dominate the marketing strategy of its CMO, Chris Tung. And he sees the group’s 12-year partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a key way of achieving both aims.

Cruisewatch is bringing its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cruise search engine to Australia — something it says is the first of its kind in the region.

As a time when brand purpose and brands standing for positive change is gaining traction in marketing and elsewhere, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is being condemned for another ‘sexist’ ad.

Trivago breached Australian Consumer Law by making misleading representations about the hotels featured on its website and television advertising for nearly three years by favouring those that paid the highest cost-per-click, a judge has found.

Australia’s bushfire ravaged tourism industry is receiving some much-needed financial support to start the road to recovery, with the Government pledging $76 million in a recovery package for the tourism and hospitality businesses and towns affected by this summer’s bushfires. And South Australia is leading the way with its just launched tourism campaign to encourage visitors back to Kangaroo Island in the wake of the fires this summer.

Technology that protects, soothes and offers reassurance, a new take on digital communities, speed-controlled entertainment and renewed privacy are among the game-changing consumer trends forecast by Wunderman Thompson in its Future 100 report.

Amid all the jokes of ‘Scotty from Marketing’ and the general cries of a lack of authentic leadership in the current bushfire crisis, one Australian has used the power of social marketing to raise over $51 million in support of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Most marketers are planning on switching their customer data platform (CDP) in the next 12 months, despite being happy with their current provider, a new report has found.

86 400 is using technology to scan 200 data points on electricity bills to offer customers a better deal.

Becoming the Salesforce or Workday of security is firmly in the sights of cybersecurity company, CrowdStrike. And judging by its successful initial public offering (IPO) last June, valuing the business at nearly US$7 billion, the market agrees the cloud native provider has the goods to achieve its mission.

Think of apple juice and you usually think of the sweetened juice made from a concentrate, so sugary it makes you wince. Once tried, this type of juice tends to ruin apple juice for people for life.

TerryWhite Chemmart has taken a customer-first approach and has improved its customer satisfaction ratings as a result.

Campbell Arnott’s has paused elements of its latest Shapes ‘Aussie Legends’ campaign in response to Australia’s ongoing bushfire crisis.

In mid-2019, one of the most significant changes to how Australians interact with their financial services providers kicked off with barely a whimper.

As a young girl, Joanne Katsos would marvel at the strength of the timbersports competitors at the Royal Melbourne Show as they chopped and sawed their way to glory. Little did she know that as an adult she would find herself in the role of marketing director for the Australian operations of an organisation that is one of the world’s key supporters of timbersports.

This year has seen the mission of marketing turn its attention to the customer, through creating an internal customer culture and a laser focus on the customer and customer advocacy, while elsewhere the marketing mandate has become disruptive.

​Change, disruption, uncertainty and engagement on the customer’s terms – looking at this year’s list of most-read stories on CMO, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’d actively sought out these topics as areas to focus on. Yet it’s clear the transformation of marketing from broadcast to two-way engagement, thanks to the ongoing disruptive impact of digital and connectivity, has continued to dominate marketing industry discussions and thinking in 2019.

We’ve all seen it happen: You spend months creating an ad or a marketing campaign. Blood, sweat and tears have gone into it, the boardroom applauds it, and yet it results in no discernible uptick in sales or brand awareness. Or worse, it gives a competitor, who may be better known in the space, a free kick.

It’s been another year of disruption, change and transformation for chief marketing officers. And as we reach the end of 2019 and take a break to recharge before assuming the modern marketing mantle once more in 2020, it’s a good time to reflect on what’s happened, what’s been achieved, and what experiences can inform better decision making in the New Year.

According to recent research by WARC, marketers are looking to increase marketing investment in emerging social media channels, such as TikTok, and away from old channels such as Twitter and Snapchat.

Privacy will remain high on the consumer’s agenda, as marketers look to different channels to connect with consumers.