Survey2026-10-02
Average CMO tenure has fallen 35% since 2010. CMOs starting in 2022 now average 2.6 years in the role. Public-company CMOs tend to last longer than those at PE or VC-backed firms. B2B and B2C tenures show little difference overall. Company size and maturity affect tenure more than sector. 26% of CMOs hired in 2026 have AI-related skills. Only 9% of CMOs in role over four years have AI-related skills. The study used verified employment data rather than self-reported surveys. Findem and CMO Huddles conducted the research. The figures come from a study of 13,000 current CMOs.
What changed
CMO tenure was longer and AI skills were less common among new hires.
What it unlocks
Identifying the growing AI skill gap among marketing leaders.
- 35% decline in average CMO tenure since 2010
- 2.6 years median tenure for CMOs starting in 2022
- 26% of 2026 CMO hires have AI-related skills
- 9% of CMOs in role over 4 years have AI-related skills
Sources