Nobody told the global marketing world that July was supposed to be a quieter month. We've seen some massive shifts in huge brands that will have global ramifications for how they go to market. Here’s a snapshot of some of the brands, CMOs and key themes to take away from July 2025.

Over 8,600 New Marketing Hires

The summer heat didn't slow down the appointment of new marketing leaders, with a huge volume of new hires across a diverse range of globally recognised brands. These new leaders will be reviewing everything from existing strategy to incumbent agencies right now and represent huge new business opportunity. A few of the moves included:

• HiBob: Sophie Chesters, Chief Marketing Officer
• Crayola: Sarah Horowitz, Marketing Director UK & NE
• Merlin Entertainments: Toby Horry, SVP Global Marketing
• what3words: Jane Stephenson, Chief Marketing Officer
• Strava: Louisa Wee, Chief Marketing Officer
• Calendly: Jamal Miller, Vice President, Brand and Product Marketing
• monday.com: Harris Beber, Chief Marketing Officer
• Airbnb: Rebecca Van Dyck, Chief Marketing Officer
• Nike: Michael Gonda, EVP, Chief Communications Officer
• Groupe Clarins: Lynn Rosenthal, Vice President Marketing
• J.P. Morgan Private Bank: Naomi Mulgrave, Global Chief Marketing Officer
• Salesforce: Debbie Hutchings, Vice President Marketing
• MUFG: Brezo Navas, Vice President, Corporate Sponsorship & Events, EMEA

Over 3,300 Promotions Shaping New Strategies

Internal talent continued to rise, with notable promotions at major brands indicating evolving strategic shifts. For marketing agencies and tech providers, these moves often signal new budget allocations, fresh strategic priorities, and opportunities for external collaboration:

• Stanley Black & Decker: Adam Schair, Vice President, Global Communications
• Mars: Chris Rodi, Global Brand VP Pedigree
• Lacoste: Cyril Maus, VP Global Sales & Marketing Underwear & Socks
• L'Oreal: David Iop, Global Vice President Communications & Engagement
• Philip Morris International: Francisca Rahardja, Chief Brand Officer
• Citi: Katy Goold, Vice President - Global Integration, Global Marketing
• Groupe Clarins: Lynn Rosenthal, Vice President Marketing
• BlackRock: Sabrina Meyers, Vice President - EMEA, Global Event Marketing

CEO Appointments Driving Strategic Marketing Directions

Leadership at the very top also saw significant changes, with 454 new CEOs taking the helm. These high-level appointments frequently lead to a re-evaluation of marketing strategies, technology stacks, international ambition and agency relationships as new visions are implemented:

• Revolut: Beatrice Cossa-Dumurgier, CEO Western Europe
• Medivet Group: Ben Jacklin, UK Chief Executive
• Decathlon: Elena Pecos, Chief Executive Officer
• Remy Cointreau: Franck Marilly, Chief Executive Officer, Remy Cointreau
• Whistl: Ian Keilty, Chief Executive Officer
• Orange: Jerome Henique, Chief Executive Officer Orange France
• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles: Stefan Mecha, Chief Executive Officer
• SUEZ: Xavier Girre, Chief Executive Officer - SUEZ Group

Fresh Funding = Increased Marketing Budgets

July's funding announcements saw 129 companies receive backing for their continued growth. These injections of new funding often directly translate to expanded marketing budgets for driving growth and awareness. Agencies and tech companies should note these rising stars:

• PhysicsX: £101 million (Series B)
• Metaview: £28 million (Series B)
• Definely: £24 million (Series B)

Strategic Marketing Opportunities and Key Conversations

The marketing landscape remains dynamic, with ongoing discussions and evolving focuses that create new business opportunties:

• Over 10,290 companies continued to prioritise sustainability initiatives, indicating a strong demand for marketing that communicates ESG values and green credentials.
• More than 2,200 companies were promoting fitness perks, highlighting a growing trend in employee well-being that marketing can tap into through internal and external campaigns.
• Nearly 320 companies championed female employees, indicating a focus on diversity and inclusion that requires nuanced and authentic marketing communications.
• 855 companies launched new websites, often signalling new brand identities, digital strategies, and immediate needs for SEO, content, UX, and paid media support.

Honch’s Essential Research for July 2025

This month, Honch released focused lists reflecting growing markets and strategic opportunities. These are ideal for new business teams looking to identify clients with immediate needs or emerging trends:

New International Coverage:

Our expansion into the Middle East has seen us identify thousands of new CMOs and marketing leaders, helping clients engage with this highly affluent territory. Our coverage included:

• Top Companies in Saudi Arabia: 817 Companies
• Top Companies in Israel: 440 Companies
• Top Companies in Oman, Qatar & Bahrain: 493 Companies
• Top Companies in United Arab Emirates: 718 Companies

Targeting the "New Sectors":

We covered emerging sectors with specific marketing needs:

• Global VPN Providers: 14 Companies
• Global Logistics Companies 2025: 269 Companies
• eSim Providers 2025: 17 Companies
• Tennis Sponsors 2025: 243 Companies

Other Key Research:

Uncovering companies undergoing significant internal or external changes that require marketing support:

• AIM Listed Companies: 498 Companies
• UK Fast Growth Index 2025 Regional Champions: 328 Companies
• Companies Promoting Case Studies: 1,077 Companies (Opportunity for content marketing and PR agencies)
• Companies Increasing Monthly Headcount: 953 Companies (Sign of growth, often requiring employer branding and recruitment marketing)
• Companies Launching New Products: 305 Companies (Immediate need for launch campaigns, digital marketing, PR)
• Recently Funded Companies: 135 Companies (Prime targets for growth marketing and scaling strategies)
• B Corps: 22 Companies (Seeking ethical marketing, sustainability comms, purpose-driven branding)
• Companies Discussing the Cannes Lions Festival 2025: 663 Companies (Engaged in the creative industry, likely seeking innovative marketing solutions)

Honch continuously tracks these pivotal marketing shifts and opportunities, ensuring you connect with senior marketers exactly when they're shaping new strategies and seeking external expertise.

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