What Is a Chief Marketing Officer? How to Become One, Salary, Skills.

The chief marketing officer, or CMO, is an executive who oversees all marketing processes of an organization. They set the marketing strategy, create benchmarks and maintain a plan for helping a brand achieve success through its marketing activities. Here’s what to know about a CMO’s needed skills, salary and how to become one.

What Is a Chief Marketing Officer?

Chief marketing officers are responsible for overseeing the marketing team and its operations. This role establishes goals and plans for the marketing department and ensures that they are met. 

What Do Chief Marketing Officers Do?

Chief marketing officers shape big-picture marketing strategy and lead teams who undertake marketing initiatives such as market research, branding, product development, communications and sales. They also set marketing goals.

Chief Marketing Officer Responsibilities

• Develop marketing strategies that establish brand identity and brand loyalty.
• Build and manage a team of marketers and provide guidance on executing goals, conduct performance reviews and hire new marketing team members. 
• Understand their company’s position in the marketplace and how to position the company in the future. 
• Create marketing plans and initiatives that drive revenue and sales. 
• Pitch and negotiate advertising campaigns. 
• Work with the finance team to establish marketing budgets. 

Day-to-Day Responsibilities of Chief Marketing Officers 

• Coordinate the responsibilities of the marketing team and check in with managers as necessary. 
• Review market research and analyze competitor products.
• Keep other senior leaders and stakeholders informed on the progress of ongoing marketing campaigns. 

Chief Marketing Officer Within a Company

Chief marketing officers are executive-level roles that lead the marketing department and have several direct reports. CMOs typically report to the CEO. 

Importance of Chief Marketing Officers

Chief marketing officers are crucial to the success of marketing operations. A successful CMO helps build, maintain and guide marketing teams and strategies that drive revenue and engagement with a company’s platform or products. 

What Skills Are Needed to Be a Chief Marketing Officer?

Qualifications to Be a Chief Marketing Officer

• Chief marketing officers usually have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, public relations or a related field. 
• Many CMOs have at least 10 years of experience working in marketing, with three to five years of management experience. 

Chief Marketing Officer Prerequisites

• Thorough knowledge of marketing principles and best practices. 
• Proven track record of being a people manager. 
• Enthusiastic about their company’s mission and product.  
• Business acumen.

Chief Marketing Officer Hard Skills

• Project management. 
• Product development. 
• Analytical skills. 
• Crisis management. 
• Social media management. 

Chief Marketing Officer Soft Skills

• People management and leadership skills. 
• Communication and presentation skills. 
• Negotiation skills. 

How to Become a Chief Marketing Officer

Chief Marketing Officer Education and Experience

Chief marketing officers usually have at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field. Although it’s not always required, getting a master’s degree in marketing, or an MBA with a marketing focus, can help further develop marketing skills and job opportunities. Most CMOs have at least 10 years of previous experience in marketing with several years of leadership experience. 

Chief Marketing Officer Certificates and Courses

• Marketing Courses and Webinars to Know
• Digital Marketing Accelerator
• Chief Marketing Officer Program
• Project Management Certification Training 
• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

Chief Marketing Officer Career Path

Chief marketing officers typically have lengthy careers in marketing before holding the CMO title, which is the highest one can have in the marketing field. Some commonly held positions along the way might include senior marketing manager, director of marketing and VP of marketing.

Chief Marketing Officer Salary and Job Outlook

The job market for marketing, advertising and related fields is expected to grow 10 percent by 2031. 

The full compensation package for a chief marketing officer depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s experience and geographic location. See below for detailed information on the average chief marketing officer’s salary.