CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (September 13 -September 19, 2026)

2 days ago

2 min read

One news brief. One weekly dose.

Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.

Island AdFest is Where Media Moves Forward

This week in Puerto Rico, AdMedia’s AdFest brought together a curated group of senior marketing, advertising and media leaders for four days of ideas, connection and perspective on where the industry is headed. From AI and emerging technology to media innovation, consumer behavior and growth, the conversations are designed to move beyond the obvious and explore what’s actually changing how brands get attention, build influence and drive growth.

(AdMedia)

Target’s Next Marketing Chapter

Target has named Mark Weinstein its new Chief Marketing and Guest Experience Officer, bringing in the former Hilton Global CMO to lead a remit that extends well beyond traditional marketing. His responsibilities include brand, guest experience, culture and community, as well as Roundel, Target’s retail media business, and Target+, putting brand, customer experience and commerce under one senior leader. The appointment is another example of how the CMO role continues to expand as brands look to connect marketing more directly to the complete customer journey.

(Brand Innovators)

The New Face of Fashion? Your Kids Teacher.

JCPenney is taking on one of fashion's biggest traditions with “The Other September Issue,” a campaign featuring five real teachers rather than professional models. The idea extends the retailer's broader “Yes, JCPenney” platform while challenging the industry's traditional definition of who gets to influence fashion and culture. JCPenney is also expanding the idea beyond the campaign through an affiliate initiative designed to give everyday voices a larger role in the brand, turning a creative concept into a broader statement about influence.

(AdWeek)

Lowe’s Puts Commerce in the CMO’s Hands

Lowe’s has expanded CMO Jen Wilson’s responsibilities to include digital commerce, adding another major business function to a portfolio that already spans marketing, retail media, loyalty and personalization. The move reflects a broader evolution in how large brands are organizing around the customer, with marketing leaders increasingly expected to influence not just awareness and consideration, but also the digital experience that ultimately drives conversion. It also puts brand, data, retail media and commerce increasingly close together inside one marketing organization.

(Marketing Dive)

Sonos is Betting on Emotion

Sonos is making a major shift in how it tells its brand story, moving beyond product specifications and technical performance to focus on the emotional role sound plays in people's lives. Its new global campaign, developed under CMO Colleen DeCourcy, positions the entire Sonos system as an experience rather than simply a collection of premium speakers. The repositioning comes as the company works to rebuild consumer connection and demonstrates how established brands can use a change in creative strategy to rethink what they want consumers to feel, not just what they want consumers to know.