The Average CMO Tenure at Major Brands

The average tenure of chief marketing officers at large US advertisers is only 3 years and 4 months, according to recent research from Spencer Stuart.

The annual report was based on an analysis of the tenures and backgrounds of CMOs at 100 of the most advertised US brands as of December 31, 2021.

The researchers found the average CMO tenure in 2021 was 40 months, tying 2020 as the lowest level in more than a decade, and the median tenure was 28 months.

The average CEO tenure in 2021 was 85 months, more than double the average CMO tenure.

For the first time in the study’s history, women outnumbered men in the CMO role (51% of CMOs at major US advertisers were women in 2021). That shift was driven by the fact that 71% of incoming CMOs at the brands examined were women in 2021.

Only 15% of CMOs in 2021 were from traditionally underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, a slight increase from 13% in 2020.

About the research: The annual report was based on an analysis of the tenures and backgrounds of CMOs at 100 of the most advertised US brands as of December 31, 2021.