Cannes Lions launches first CMO global forum
A closed-door conversation focused on the issues shaping growth, brand and leadership today.
22 April 2026 - Cannes Lions has announced the launch of its inaugural LIONS Global CMO Forum, a closed-door, CMO-only gathering designed to give the world’s most senior marketers a rare opportunity to engage in candid, peer-to-peer discussion on the issues shaping modern marketing leadership.
Taking place during the Festival, Wednesday 24 June from 2 to 5pm, at the Majestic Hotel, Cannes, the Forum is intentionally designed as a departure from traditional industry events. The Forum offers an opportunity to step back and engage deeply with peers facing shared challenges - from driving growth and proving effectiveness to balancing short-term performance with long-term brand building.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “CMOs today are navigating more complexity and scrutiny than ever before – expected to drive immediate results while building brands that endure. Yet too often, the industry creates spaces where they are spoken at, rather than heard. The LIONS Global CMO Forum has been designed to change that. It’s a closed, trusted environment where the world’s leading marketers can speak candidly with one another, challenge thinking, and gain perspectives that are directly relevant to their roles. By bringing together insights from both CEOs and the ANA | LIONS CMO Global Growth Council, we’re creating a space where marketing leaders can better understand, and influence, the business agenda.”
What to expect
The Forum is built around interaction, not presentation, with a focus on meaningful dialogue among those shaping the future of marketing:
Peer-to-peer exchange: Open, candid discussion in a trusted, closed setting (Chatham House Rule).
Insights from the ANA | LIONS Global CMO Growth Council*: Including key themes from discussions chaired by P&G’s Marc Pritchard, with representation from leading global brands.
CEO perspectives: A unique opportunity to unpack insights from the LIONS Global CEO Forum happening Monday in Cannes and explore how CMOs can better influence business growth agendas, bringing together both sides of the leadership equation to align brand ambition with business growth.
Curated discussion topics, including:
- strengthening marketing’s influence within the C-suite
- balancing short-term performance with long-term brand building
- leveraging AI and emerging technology as a creative multiplier
- navigating the evolving scope and tenure of the CMO role
- the future of marketing talent – teams, roles and skills.
Forum details
Date: Wednesday 24 June
Time: 2:00–5:00pm
Location: Majestic Hotel, Cannes
Request an invitation (Attendance limited. For CMOs only):
LionsCMOForum@lions.co
ENDS
*The Global CMO Growth Council is co-founded by ANA and Cannes Lions and represents over 1200 chief marketers from more than 40 countries, collectively representing more than 50 per cent of the world’s advertising investment. Chaired by Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer at Procter & Gamble. Since its launch in 2018, the Growth Council has mobilised thousands of CMOs and industry leaders around the world to transform marketing into a force for economic growth and societal good.
Contacts:
Camilla Lambert
PR Director
LIONS
Camillal@canneslions.com
Tash Naidoo
Senior PR Manager
LIONS
Tashn@canneslions.com
Press Portal:
press.canneslions.com
Awards enquiries:
awards@canneslions.com
Notes to editors:
About LIONS
LIONS is the global platform that champions creativity and marketing effectiveness for growth. We help businesses grow through creative marketing that matters.
We know that creativity can and should be applied across the full marketing mix. Creativity is an impactful business driver - and when it's integrated with a culture of effectiveness, it's a competitive advantage.
Backed by over 150 years of experience and evidence, Cannes Lions, WARC, Effie, Contagious and Acuity - provides the global marketing industry with the definitive benchmarks, intelligence, training and tailored advice needed to grow.
LIONS is part of Informa PLC.
www.lions.co
About Informa
Informa PLC is a leading international B2B events, digital services and academic research group.
We champion specialists. Through hundreds of market-leading brands, we connect people with knowledge so they can learn more, know more and do more.
We operate in over 30 countries and serve businesses and professionals working in over a dozen specialist markets.
Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.
www.informa.com
Taking place during the Festival, Wednesday 24 June from 2 to 5pm, at the Majestic Hotel, Cannes, the Forum is intentionally designed as a departure from traditional industry events. The Forum offers an opportunity to step back and engage deeply with peers facing shared challenges - from driving growth and proving effectiveness to balancing short-term performance with long-term brand building.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “CMOs today are navigating more complexity and scrutiny than ever before – expected to drive immediate results while building brands that endure. Yet too often, the industry creates spaces where they are spoken at, rather than heard. The LIONS Global CMO Forum has been designed to change that. It’s a closed, trusted environment where the world’s leading marketers can speak candidly with one another, challenge thinking, and gain perspectives that are directly relevant to their roles. By bringing together insights from both CEOs and the ANA | LIONS CMO Global Growth Council, we’re creating a space where marketing leaders can better understand, and influence, the business agenda.”
What to expect
The Forum is built around interaction, not presentation, with a focus on meaningful dialogue among those shaping the future of marketing:
Peer-to-peer exchange: Open, candid discussion in a trusted, closed setting (Chatham House Rule).
Insights from the ANA | LIONS Global CMO Growth Council*: Including key themes from discussions chaired by P&G’s Marc Pritchard, with representation from leading global brands.
CEO perspectives: A unique opportunity to unpack insights from the LIONS Global CEO Forum happening Monday in Cannes and explore how CMOs can better influence business growth agendas, bringing together both sides of the leadership equation to align brand ambition with business growth.
Curated discussion topics, including:
- strengthening marketing’s influence within the C-suite
- balancing short-term performance with long-term brand building
- leveraging AI and emerging technology as a creative multiplier
- navigating the evolving scope and tenure of the CMO role
- the future of marketing talent – teams, roles and skills.
Forum details
Date: Wednesday 24 June
Time: 2:00–5:00pm
Location: Majestic Hotel, Cannes
Request an invitation (Attendance limited. For CMOs only):
LionsCMOForum@lions.co
ENDS
*The Global CMO Growth Council is co-founded by ANA and Cannes Lions and represents over 1200 chief marketers from more than 40 countries, collectively representing more than 50 per cent of the world’s advertising investment. Chaired by Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer at Procter & Gamble. Since its launch in 2018, the Growth Council has mobilised thousands of CMOs and industry leaders around the world to transform marketing into a force for economic growth and societal good.
Contacts:
Camilla Lambert
PR Director
LIONS
Camillal@canneslions.com
Tash Naidoo
Senior PR Manager
LIONS
Tashn@canneslions.com
Press Portal:
press.canneslions.com
Awards enquiries:
awards@canneslions.com
Notes to editors:
About LIONS
LIONS is the global platform that champions creativity and marketing effectiveness for growth. We help businesses grow through creative marketing that matters.
We know that creativity can and should be applied across the full marketing mix. Creativity is an impactful business driver - and when it's integrated with a culture of effectiveness, it's a competitive advantage.
Backed by over 150 years of experience and evidence, Cannes Lions, WARC, Effie, Contagious and Acuity - provides the global marketing industry with the definitive benchmarks, intelligence, training and tailored advice needed to grow.
LIONS is part of Informa PLC.
www.lions.co
About Informa
Informa PLC is a leading international B2B events, digital services and academic research group.
We champion specialists. Through hundreds of market-leading brands, we connect people with knowledge so they can learn more, know more and do more.
We operate in over 30 countries and serve businesses and professionals working in over a dozen specialist markets.
Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.
www.informa.com
