NRF Creates CMO Council

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has formed the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council to serve as the primary advertising and marketing voice for the retail industry. The Washington, D.C.-based trade organization’s Retail Advertising and Marketing Association (RAMA) will transition into the newly created council.

“During its rich history, RAMA has served as a cornerstone for the retail advertising and marketing communities, and we are fortunate to have such a diverse group of talented executives at the ready to take part in the new CMO Council,” said NRF SVP of Communities Vicki Cantrell. “As the consumer has changed, so, too, has the role of retail executives behind the scenes.” Cantrell added that the council would “[highlight] the retail marketers’ insight and priorities, while offering a cohesive voice to represent this dynamic sector of the industry.”

Open to any NRF retail member CMO or an organization’s most senior marketing position, the council will hold its first official meeting during Shop.org’s Annual Summit in Chicago. Further, council members will work with other NRF councils and communities, including the invitation-only CIO Council and Shop.org, to develop comprehensive research, present events and connect industry peers.

According to Kevin Brown, a longtime marketing executive who will chair the CMO Council: “The transition comes at the perfect time in the organization’s evolution. It allows us to be more inclusive, which will generate more viewpoints to help us tackle the complex marketing challenges facing our industry, be it social, local or technology.”