Author: Marylee Sachs
Publisher: Gower Publishing
Reviewer: Keri Blackburn, global services marketing specialist, Esko
If you’re interested in a look behind the curtain of the careers of high level marketers in today’s environment, you will find this book engaging.
Categorised by business conditions surrounding their appointment, you can easily find the group that you best identify with.
Written as a series of first person accounts, the author simply provides summaries and a good chapter on marketing leadership characteristics that is very practical. The book contains actionable detail for the reader such as organisation charts and advice on overcoming organisational doubt.
But hurry. Of the 26 CMOs interviewed for the book, seven have moved on to other companies since publication, while two have new non-marketing roles at their existing companies. This simple fact of life in today’s business world may give this book a relatively short shelf life.
But the advice contained within will stand for some time. The CMO role is not for the faint of heart. These professionals understand that success will come from being able to straddle the marketing organisation and the boardroom. You will see a common thread of collaboration, leadership, and ability to change and react; all good qualities to polish, whether you aspire to being a CMO or simply a better marketing leader.
In the spirit of current events, focus on the pages that cover Target Corporation’s CMO, Jeff Jones. It is interesting to read his perspective on the Target culture and his role in light of the current press surrounding his public response to critique of the company’s series of recent bad news stories.
Star rating:
5/5
