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 new appointments, with significant marketing hires across a diverse range of globally recognised brands, including:

• 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 directions:

• 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 Directions

Leadership at the very top also saw significant changes, with 454 new CEOs taking the helm, including:

• 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 underscore continued investment in innovation, often translating to expanded marketing budgets. We tracked 129 UK companies completing their latest funding rounds, including:

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

Sponsorship Buzz and Strategic Conversations

The sponsorship landscape remains vibrant with ongoing discussions and evolving focuses:

• 8,590 brands actively discussing their sponsorship of sport, grass roots programmes and B2B events.
• Over 10,290 companies continued to prioritise sustainability initiatives.
• More than 2,200 companies were promoting fitness perks, highlighting a growing trend in employee well-being and related partnerships.
• Nearly 320 companies championed female employees, indicating a focus on diversity and inclusion.
• 855 companies launched new websites, often signalling new marketing pushes.

Honch’s Fresh Research for July 2025

This month, Honch released essential sponsorship targeting lists, reflecting new market developments and strategic opportunities:

New International Coverage:

• 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

New Category Coverage:

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

Other Key Lists:

• AIM Listed Companies: 498 Companies
• UK Fast Growth Index 2025 Regional Champions: 328 Companies
• Companies Promoting Case Studies: 1,077 Companies
• Companies Increasing Monthly Headcount: 953 Companies
• Companies Launching New Products: 72 Companies
• FMCG & Retail Brands Launching New Products: 163 Companies
• Recently Funded Companies: 135 Companies
• B Corps - June 2025: 22 Companies
• Companies Discussing the Cannes Lions Festival 2025: 663 Companies

Keep your finger on the pulse of brands that are about to switch up their marketing strategy, global companies hiring new CMOs and the latest sectors investing in sponsorship with Honch.

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