CMO Chats

Sameer Thakkar, VP of Marketing at SAS, defines the modern marketing leader's role as a "Force Multiplier" for the entire business. He emphasizes that all three core marketing pillars—Brand, Demand, and Engagement—are being transformed by AI. Marketers must embrace the convergence of B2B and B2C because the buyer is a "human being" influenced by consumer habits. While battling the challenges of cutting through the noise , success is built on the foundation of People, Programmes, and Process. Above all, modern leadership requires empowering teams with the "freedom to fail" to foster innovation and agility.

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Dorota Martinez, Head of Marketing for ANZ at Tech Data APAC, explores how measurability, self-awareness, and breaking down silos are redefining modern B2B marketing. She emphasizes that marketing’s true purpose is growth, and why the leader must function as a "Connector" to achieve it. For Dorota, success means setting clear KPIs and overcoming the B2B attribution challenge in long sales cycles. By going "back to the basics" of understanding the audience and embracing an AI-driven future, she proves that collaboration and focused messaging drive real business value.

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Alexander de Leon, Group Vice President of Marketing at PropertyGuru Group, explores how creativity, courage, and culture are redefining modern marketing. Drawing from his experience at Google, Meta, and HBO, he shares why marketing’s true purpose is growth—and why it takes empowered, hands-on teams to achieve it. For Alexander, success means cutting through bureaucracy, building brands people love, and embracing innovation fearlessly. From launching a hit reality show to experimenting with AI-driven content, he proves that bold ideas and authentic storytelling can drive real business growth.

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Ismael Garcia, Chief Marketing Officer at Civitatis, shares how AI, data, and simplicity are reshaping the modern marketing landscape. He discusses why adaptability matters more than ever as AI transforms creativity, content, and search—and how marketers must balance experimentation with human connection. Drawing on his global experience across tech giants like Microsoft and Google, Ismael emphasises the power of understanding different markets and tailoring strategies that truly serve the customer. For him, success isn’t about louder campaigns, but about curating exceptional, 10-out-of-10 experiences that speak for themselves.

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Suzana Ristevski, Chief Marketing Officer for Australia and New Zealand at Google, discusses how AI, collaboration, and customer advocacy are shaping the next era of marketing. She shares why growth remains the CMO’s ultimate mandate, how AI enables deeper customer understanding and personalisation, and why breaking silos is key to success. Suzana also reflects on marketing’s evolving role as a connector across functions—and encourages leaders to stay curious and embrace the opportunities of leading both humans and AI.

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Phesephony Naidoo, Marketing Director for ANZ at Concentrix, highlights brand, demand, and customer experience as marketing’s core pillars. She points to data as today’s biggest opportunity, urges clarity in value propositions, including knowing what not to do, and envisions a future where marketing earns its seat at the C-suite table. Her advice: stay curious and embrace diverse paths in the age of AI.

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Vivienne Horsfall, Director of Field Marketing, APJ at Transmit Security, shares why authenticity, empathy, and orchestration are at the heart of modern marketing leadership. She reflects on breaking down silos by blending fraud prevention with customer identity, and how executive roundtables create real pipeline impact when sales and marketing align. Vivienne also highlights the growing challenge of cutting through today’s noise, stressing that “generic marketing is dead” and urging leaders to master each step, build human connections, and make empathy their superpower in navigating today’s fast-changing landscape.

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Arunima Mehta, Head of Global Brand Marketing at FSS, shares why success today is defined by action, not campaigns. She reflects on fragmented buyer journeys, the need for always-on engagement, and the impact of flagship events like Simply Payments in driving thought leadership and networking. Arunima also highlights AI as the biggest opportunity for CMOs, accelerating execution while stressing that the future of marketing lies in balancing human connection with data-driven decisions.

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Sue-Ann Prentice, CMO of Fluke Corporation, shares why curiosity and continuous learning are essential traits for today’s marketer. She reflects on positioning marketing as the organisation’s growth engine, aligning with sales where “the magic happens,” and the role of flagship events like Accelerate in strengthening customer engagement. Sue Ann also discusses AI as both an opportunity and a challenge, stressing the importance of balancing technology with human creativity.

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Sam Shrager, CMO of BCB Group, shares why the modern marketer must act as an Integrator, aligning brand, sales, product, and compliance. She reflects on building stronger sales-marketing relationships, evolving event strategies to deliver measurable ROI, and why CRM hygiene underpins success. Sam also discusses AI as a creative “starter for ten” and the continued importance of networking as marketing’s most powerful tool.

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