LIONS CMO Accelerator Series

Expand your network, join a global community and meet the CMOs of tomorrow.

We help leaders harness the power of creative marketing and apply it to the right strategic decisions.

Known as Cannes Lions' premier learning experience for senior marketing leaders, over 500 alumni from 50+ countries have joined the two-day CMO Accelerator since 2013.

In November 2025, the CMO Accelerator will host its first London and São Paulo Editions, attracting some of the world's largest brands for two days of thought leadership, inspiration and networking. Step up and take your career to the next level with mentorship from Fernando Machado.

Learn more about the LIONS CMO Accelerator Series and how we support businesses to install commercial creativity as part of their infrastructure, raising its profile and measuring its impact.

LIONS Learning brands featuring the Cannes Lions, WARC, and Contagious logos

LIONS CMO Accelerator Series

São Paulo Edition: 13–14 November 2025
Location: Central location to be revealed soon
London Edition: 17–18 November 2025
Location: MSQ Partners, 34 Bow St, London WC2E 7AU

What does the programme look like?

Full access to the CMO Accelerator Series includes:

A virtual kick-off call, pre-event to meet Programme Director Fernando Machado and the class
An immersive 2-day classroom experience designed for maximum impact
A networking dinner to spark connections
All learning materials provided
Access to an exclusive alumni community
Dedicated onsite support throughout
Plus - breakfast, lunch and refreshments on both classroom-based days
A virtual check-in three months after the CMO Accelerator Series

Reserve your place

Fernando Machado

The CMO Accelerator Series will be led by Fernando Machado as Programme Director.

Fernando is a visionary global marketer who believes creativity drives competitive advantage. Renowned for shaping distinctive brands, he leverages deep consumer insight, innovation, design, and strategic marketing to fuel business growth.

Winner of 200+ Lions, Fernando is the former Chief Marketing Officer at RBI (and Burger King), former Chief Marketing Officer at Activision Blizzard and co-founder of the LIONS Growth MBA.

What do we cover?

The two-day curriculum will cover exclusive talks from world-class industry leaders, including:

The Role of the CMO Today: How the function is evolving in a complex, creativity- driven marketplace
What it takes to win a Lion: Behind the scenes with Cannes Lions Winners and LIONS Presidents and Jurors
Manage your creative self: Take charge of your career
Brand marketing hot shots: What do they want from their CMO?
Inside the creator mindset: What CMOs need to know now

Key Learning Outcomes

Strategic capability boost. Leave with renowned clarity on how to lead with creativity fuelled growth, translating big ideas into measurable business impact
Peer-to-peer learning. CMOs and marketing leaders share live business challenges and pressure-test strategies in a trusted environment with global peers
Immediate activation. Participants often return to their teams and apply frameworks immediately - whether it's updating brand purpose, restructuring agency partnerships or rethinking customer engagement
Career acceleration and visibility. Several alumni have been promoted within 12-18 months of attending, citing the programme as a career inflection point
Award-winning work. Creative campaigns developed or reshaped after the CMO Accelerator have gone on to perform brilliantly at Cannes Lions, the Effies and regional effectiveness awards

Testimonials

Laura Ness Owens

Chief Marketing Officer, Doosan Bobcat

I am more knowledgeable and inspired than ever! A fellow attendee said she wished she would have known about this 5 years ago. I shared that I felt like it came at just the right time – and I'm so excited to apply the new thinking to all that I do!

Sam Southey

SVP Brand Equity & Creative, Coty

An executive summary of all the inspiration there is in the world from the last 12 months. It is a jolt to the system and will certainly give you wings.

Lorretta Romero

VP of Marketing, LCOR, INC

The CMO Accelerator continues to deliver exceptional value. It's one of the few experiences that truly supports CMO-level growth and connection.

Wendy Walker

Chief Marketing Officer, Salesforce

It’s an incredible space for CMOs from all around the world to come together, learn, challenge each other, and grow.

Jim Stengel

Programme Director at Cannes Lions CMO Accelerator programme

We closed the week with bold conversations, big ideas, and a collective commitment to shaping the future of marketing.

Ebru Ozguc

Group Strategic Marketing Director, Babcock

Whether you're looking for inspiration, to see outstanding work, learn new things or meet brilliant minds, there is no better place than the CMO Accelerator Programme

The CMO Accelerator Series is trusted by some of the world’s leading brands.

Who is this programme for?

To be eligible for the CMO Accelerator Series, you will have a minimum of 10 years’ industry experience; have responsibility for a business, brand or group of brands and/or responsibility for brand-building capability within the organisation - either within the division/category or across the company.

You are also accountable for some, if not all, of the marketing/brand-building strategy and capability within your organisation.

You’ll operate within Latin America (for the São Paulo Edition) or Europe (for the London Edition).

Get in touch

To find out more about the CMO Accelerator Series curriculum and get details on pricing, please get in touch below:

Contact us

Transform your career.

Learning opportunities from LIONS offer a blend of theory and practical elements from globally-known practitioners – leaving you ready to progress your career in creativity.

Learn with LIONS