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In each issue, we'll offer an inspiring and insightful compilation of news, interviews, lists, features and events from the Forbes CMO Network and the broader Forbes universe. We'll also highlight a guest CMO who shares a “One Thought" from their perspective on an industry trend or practice.

Jane Wakely, lead CMO at Mars Inc. shares her thoughts and views on how to build sustainability into a brand marketing strategy to fight climate change and support biodiversity. We also feature a video interview with Dell CMO Allison Dew, who talks about how "technology has been a force for good."

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CMO Summit Europe Interview with Mars Inc.'s Jane Wakely

Mars Inc. CMO Jane Wakely talks about the importance of sustainability

"Mars is very clear that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. And that captures an attitude that we follow through on. So on climate change, we have a policy called Sustainable In A Generation. It’s a $1 billion plan and basically takes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and works out our fair share of solving the problem. For example, on greenhouse gases, we’ve looked at what greenhouse gas emission reduction we need to drive and have very tangible targets by 2025 for both our internal supply chain but also our end-to-end supply chain going back into agriculture. And I think the opportunity for all companies is to step up and do our fair share. We work on a balance score card, and senior leaders are very overtly incentivized of course on financial performance and quality of growth but also on how we are contributing to our sustainable environmental and social policies."

Latest From The CMO Network

Recently we've seen—but thankfully not tasted—a variety of strange fast food campaigns. We recently spoke with CMO Fernando Machado about Burger King's new ads featuring compellingly moldy Whoppers that show the company doesn’t use artificial ingredients. (Some question whether the campaign will #repulse would-be burger-goers# or whet new appetites with fresh ideas and even fresher beef.) Meanwhile, rival McDonald's is focused on scent with a new line of candles that smell like the ingredients of a Quarter Pounder—beef, bun, onion, ketchup, pickles, and cheese—that are probably best not to light before breakfast. And in the world of fried chicken footwear, KFC partnered with Crocs to put a pair of drumsticks on limited edition clogs complete with a matching aroma.

As marketers continue to grapple with how to comply with California’s new data privacy legislation, a new proposal in Congress could develop a whole agency aimed at enforcing data protection. This month, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), introduced legislation to create the Data Protection Agency, an independent body that would be tasked with enforcing data privacy laws while also fostering digital innovation within the U.S. government.

Maryam Banikarim, the former global CMO of Hyatt, has joined Nextdoor, the neighborhood-focused social network, as the company’s head of marketing. In her new role, Banikarim will be tasked with leading the San Francisco-based company’s marketing efforts in the U.S. and internationally while also managing Nextdoor’s communications and policy teams.

Cadillac partnered with director Spike Lee to film the reveal of the 2021 Escalade right before the Academy Awards. The GM-owned auto brand then dropped the new vehicle right at Cadillac's Oscar's party at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood. The campaign, "Make Your Way," is the first campaign under Cadillac's new CMO Melissa Grady, who was promoted last year after former Cadillac CMO Deborah Wahl was promoted to the role of global CMO of GM.

CMO Video Interview Series