The Marketing Academy unveils Global Fellowship 2026 

The Marketing Academy, a non-profit organisation, has evolved its Fellowship Program from regional cohorts across EMEA, the US and APAC into a Global Program, allowing chief marketing officers from across the world to participate alongside peers from every continent. The board-level programme is designed exclusively for CMOs and focuses on developing skills to support transitions into CEO or broader C-suite roles.

Following a rigorous selection process, The Marketing Academy has selected 30 CMOs and growth leaders from around the world who will form the first of two cohorts for 2026.

Sherilyn Shackell, Founder & Global CEO of The Marketing Academy, said , “The response to the 2026 Global Fellowship Program has been extraordinary in both volume and calibre. We saw an unprecedented number of applications from exceptional CMOs, making the selection process both a privilege and a responsibility. Being selected is a significant achievement, but more importantly, it’s an invitation into a global community where leaders can learn, across industries, borders & cultures, together. We are thrilled and deeply honoured to welcome this exceptional group as they help shape the future of boardrooms globally.”

The 2026 Global Fellowship Program is sponsored by Salesforce, The Brandtech Group, TikTok and Omnicom, with support from knowledge partners McKinsey & Company, marketing leadership expert Thomas Barta and board-level coaching organisation Wisdom8.

Bogdan Toma, Partner, McKinsey & Company, said, “We are excited to welcome an exciting and diverse group of CMOs in 2026 and continue McKinsey's 10+ years global partnership with TMA, as knowledge partners. This year, we expect so much more of the conversation to be anchored in the impact of technology in Marketing and business more broadly, and the leadership approach required to craft the path forward. We are excited to partner with TMA, facilitate and inspire the rich conversation that will anchor the programme over the sessions planned this year.”

The Fellows appointed for the first 2026 cohort are:

• Allyson Witherspoon, Chief Marketing Officer, Nissan Motor Corporation;
• Andy Freeman, Group Brand & Marketing Officer, Centrica;
• Anna Braithwaite, Chief Customer/Marketing Officer, John Lewis Plc;
• Avi Laufer, CMO – Strauss Israel, Strauss Group;
• Bart Quinton Smith, Marketing & Sales Director, UK & Ireland, TUI Group;
• Cilesta Van Doorn, Chief Brand & Marketing Officer, BT;
• Clairy Moraitou, Group Head of Customer, Market and Brand Insights, Zurich Insurance;
• David Hilbert, Marketing Director, Europe, Kia Europe GmbH;
• Gabriella Libonati, Head of Global Marketing, Venchi;
• Georgina Bradford, General Manager Foods UK & Ireland and Mini Meals Europe, Unilever;
• Hamish McVey, Director of Marketing, British Airways;
• Inderjit Bassi, Chief Marketing and Design Officer, Barclays UK;
• Jill Dougan, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Informa;
• Laetitia Raoust, CDMO L’Oréal UK and Ireland, L’Oréal;
• Laura Joseph, Chief Customer Officer, Tesco Mobile;
• Lisa Vortsman, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, US, The Magnum Ice Cream Company;
• Luis Garcia, Chief Marketing Officer, Naterra International;
• Michelle Spillane, Managing Director of Marketing, Flutter;
• Monica Silic, Chief Marketing Officer, KFC UK & Ireland;
• Mounir Jazouli, Chief Communication & Institutional Relations Officer, Bank of Africa;
• Naomi Kasolowsky, Category Director, Tesco PLC;
• Patrik Hansson, CMO Exec VP Marketing and Innovation, Arla Foods;
• Robert Blythe, CMO – Europe Beverages, PepsiCo;
• Samantha Reader, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, Mark Anthony Brands International;
• Sarah Fuller, Chief Marketing Officer, The Automobile Association;
• Shubhranshu Singh, Marketing Advisor & Columnist, Global Board Member, Effie Lions Foundation;
• Stephanie Shields Jacoby, Global Category Director, Vodka, Diageo;
• Sumit Virmani, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Infosys Limited;
• Valentina Ciobanu, CMO – Europe, Australia and North Asia, General Mills;
• WenWu Yuan, Chief Marketing Officer, C&A Mode GmbH.

The Fellowship Program curriculum covers all elements of board stewardship, including strategy, corporate finance, organisational health, leading transformational change, operational effectiveness and stakeholder influence. Fellows also receive mentoring support, enabling one-on-one time with experienced board members, and are assigned an executive coach for the duration of the programme.

Applications for the second 2026 cohort remain open until March 30, 2026. Acceptance into The Marketing Academy Global Fellowship Program is merit-based, and the programme is delivered free of charge to selected participants, who are required to cover only accommodation, food and beverage, and travel costs.