A sitting CMO in a boardroom overlooking the city

For sitting CMOs

CMO Career Desk

Your growth, your documents and your next seat, handled in private.

Where would you like to begin?

Boards and CEOs hire CMOs through firms like ours. Until one of them calls, the preparation is in your hands: knowing where to move, how you read when someone looks you up, being found without looking, and presenting for that exact role.

Built for
CMOs and marketing leaders planning a next move
Confidentiality
Nothing is published unless you approve it. No message to your employer.
How you use it
Each service stands alone. Take one, or several.

Know where to go

Confidential CMO Career Strategy and Growth Planning

“I don’t know whether to move, or where.”

A private document that reads your record against the market and shows you which moves are worth making. It is written for you and sent to you, and we keep no copy.

You receiveA private strategy document, written for you alone.

Open the Career Strategy The full details and the price are on its own page.

Two senior leaders walking and talking through a career decision

Strictly confidential

Career, Compensation & Global Mobility Strategy

Prepared for you aloneGladwin International & Company

In six parts

  1. Executive summary
  2. Where you stand
  3. Your pathways
  4. Your compensation
  5. Global mobility
  6. Your roadmap

Illustrative layout

  1. If I read only one page, what should I do?Executive summary
  2. How does my record look from the outside?Where you stand
  3. Where can I realistically go from here?Your pathways
  4. Which move actually leaves me better off?Your compensation
  5. Is a move abroad worth it for my family?Global mobility
  6. What do I do next, and by when?Your roadmap

Be found in your own words

Personal Website for CMOs

“When someone looks me up, I want them to find the right story.”

When a chair, a nomination committee or a search firm looks you up, what they find should be clear, current and yours. You see a private preview first, and nothing goes live until you approve it.

You receiveA website you review and approve before anything is published.

See the Personal Website The full details and the price are on its own page.

The Obsidian website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianRoyale · The SovereignThe Obsidian website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianSignature · The ColumnistThe Obsidian website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianAdvantage · The ProfileThe Travertine website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineRoyale · The ChronicleThe Travertine website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineSignature · The ReviewThe Travertine website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Meridian website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianRoyale · The ManifestoThe Meridian website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianSignature · The Op-EdThe Meridian website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Copper website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOCopperRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Copper website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOCopperSignature · The FolioThe Copper website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOCopperAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Obsidian website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianRoyale · The ChronicleThe Obsidian website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianSignature · The ReviewThe Obsidian website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Porcelain website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainRoyale · The ManifestoThe Porcelain website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainSignature · The Op-EdThe Porcelain website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Oxblood website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Oxblood website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodSignature · The FolioThe Oxblood website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Sandstone website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneRoyale · The SovereignThe Sandstone website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneSignature · The ColumnistThe Sandstone website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneAdvantage · The ProfileThe Cypress website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOCypressRoyale · The ManifestoThe Cypress website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOCypressSignature · The Op-EdThe Cypress website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOCypressAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Meridian website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Meridian website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianSignature · The FolioThe Meridian website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Indigo website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoRoyale · The SovereignThe Indigo website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoSignature · The ColumnistThe Indigo website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoAdvantage · The ProfileThe Sandstone website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneRoyale · The ChronicleThe Sandstone website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneSignature · The ReviewThe Sandstone website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Travertine website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineRoyale · The ManifestoThe Travertine website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineSignature · The Op-EdThe Travertine website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Porcelain website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Porcelain website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainSignature · The FolioThe Porcelain website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Graphite website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteRoyale · The SovereignThe Graphite website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteSignature · The ColumnistThe Graphite website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteAdvantage · The ProfileThe Indigo website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoRoyale · The ChronicleThe Indigo website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoSignature · The ReviewThe Indigo website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Obsidian website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianRoyale · The ManifestoThe Obsidian website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianSignature · The Op-EdThe Obsidian website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Cypress website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOCypressRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Cypress website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOCypressSignature · The FolioThe Cypress website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOCypressAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Copper website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOCopperRoyale · The SovereignThe Copper website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOCopperSignature · The ColumnistThe Copper website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOCopperAdvantage · The ProfileThe Graphite website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteRoyale · The ChronicleThe Graphite website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteSignature · The ReviewThe Graphite website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Travertine website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Travertine website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineSignature · The FolioThe Travertine website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Oxblood website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodRoyale · The SovereignThe Oxblood website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodSignature · The ColumnistThe Oxblood website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodAdvantage · The ProfileThe Copper website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOCopperRoyale · The ChronicleThe Copper website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOCopperSignature · The ReviewThe Copper website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOCopperAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Sandstone website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneRoyale · The ManifestoThe Sandstone website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneSignature · The Op-EdThe Sandstone website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Obsidian website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Obsidian website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianSignature · The FolioThe Obsidian website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOObsidianAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Meridian website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianRoyale · The SovereignThe Meridian website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianSignature · The ColumnistThe Meridian website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianAdvantage · The ProfileThe Oxblood website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodRoyale · The ChronicleThe Oxblood website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodSignature · The ReviewThe Oxblood website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Indigo website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoRoyale · The ManifestoThe Indigo website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoSignature · The Op-EdThe Indigo website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Porcelain website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainRoyale · The SovereignThe Porcelain website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainSignature · The ColumnistThe Porcelain website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainAdvantage · The ProfileThe Meridian website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianRoyale · The ChronicleThe Meridian website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianSignature · The ReviewThe Meridian website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOMeridianAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Graphite website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteRoyale · The ManifestoThe Graphite website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteSignature · The Op-EdThe Graphite website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Sandstone website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Sandstone website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneSignature · The FolioThe Sandstone website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOSandstoneAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Cypress website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOCypressRoyale · The SovereignThe Cypress website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOCypressSignature · The ColumnistThe Cypress website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOCypressAdvantage · The ProfileThe Porcelain website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainRoyale · The ChronicleThe Porcelain website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainSignature · The ReviewThe Porcelain website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOPorcelainAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Copper website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOCopperRoyale · The ManifestoThe Copper website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOCopperSignature · The Op-EdThe Copper website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOCopperAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Indigo website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Indigo website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoSignature · The FolioThe Indigo website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOIndigoAdvantage · The Portrait RoomThe Travertine website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineRoyale · The SovereignThe Travertine website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineSignature · The ColumnistThe Travertine website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CMOTravertineAdvantage · The ProfileThe Cypress website template, The Chronicle, shown for a fictional CMOCypressRoyale · The ChronicleThe Cypress website template, The Review, shown for a fictional CMOCypressSignature · The ReviewThe Cypress website template, The Letterhead, shown for a fictional CMOCypressAdvantage · The LetterheadThe Oxblood website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodRoyale · The ManifestoThe Oxblood website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodSignature · The Op-EdThe Oxblood website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CMOOxbloodAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Graphite website template, The Exhibition, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteRoyale · The ExhibitionThe Graphite website template, The Folio, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteSignature · The FolioThe Graphite website template, The Portrait Room, shown for a fictional CMOGraphiteAdvantage · The Portrait Room
The Obsidian The Sovereign design from the Royale collection, shown with a fictional CMO

The Flagship Collection, written for a CMO

Open Obsidian as a live site

Demonstrations with fictional leaders. Your own portrait and approved words replace them.

  • Your biography, career history, case study and philosophy
  • A design chosen from 300, on a domain you can own
  • Your CV stays private and is not published automatically
  • Domain, hosting and a LinkedIn review, so that it all tells one story

Be found quietly

Custom Whisper Job Search Agent for CMOs

“I can’t be seen looking, but I want to hear what opens up.”

An agent set up around a brief you set. While you keep running marketing, Whisper works in silence and reads the market against that brief every week. When something aligns you hear first, and your identity stays protected until you choose to engage.

You receiveA steady read of the market, set against your brief.

Open the Job Search Agent The full details and the price are on its own page.

Whisper · This week Identity protected

  • PE-backed consumer brand, pre-IPO

    FactDraft papers for a listing have been filed.

    InferenceInvestors may want a CMO who can show brand beyond paid media.

  • Listed consumer-durables company, Mumbai

    FactA new MD has joined from outside the company.

    InferenceThe marketing seat is often reviewed in a new MD’s first year.

  • Family-owned jewellery group, Chennai

    FactA national retail expansion has been announced.

    InferenceA first professional CMO may be hired.

Illustrative, not live signals

What it reads

  • Regulatory filings
  • Board announcements
  • Leadership changes
  • Funding rounds
  • M&A activity
  • IPO activity
  • Business news
  • Tenders
  • Conferences
  • The roles, sectors and locations you want, your floor, and the companies to leave out
  • What is known, kept apart from what is inferred
  • No public CV and no broadcast search
  • It never contacts an employer in your name

Present for the role

Custom CMO Resume, CMO Board Profile Development

“I am applying for a role, or several this year.”

One career, read by very different people. Choose a reader below: what an IPO board looks for first is not what a global treasury looks for. Each document is made for the role in front of you.

You receiveA document made for the one role in front of you.

Open Resume & Board Profile The full details and the price are on its own page.

First page of A Code Counts Once, a CV design for a CMOA Code Counts OnceCMOFirst page of Before the Client Presentation, a CV design for a Group CMOBefore the Client PresentationGroup CMOFirst page of Seventy Receipts, Two Routes, a CV design for a Chief Brand OfficerSeventy Receipts, Two RoutesChief Brand OfficerFirst page of Six Days on the Window, a CV design for a CMOSix Days on the WindowCMOFirst page of The Card at the Tea Stop, a CV design for a Group CMOThe Card at the Tea StopGroup CMOFirst page of The Cover Story, a CV design for a Chief Marketing OfficerThe Cover StoryChief Marketing OfficerFirst page of The Finish They Ordered, a CV design for a Chief Brand OfficerThe Finish They OrderedChief Brand OfficerFirst page of The First Bowl on the Tray, a CV design for a Group CMOThe First Bowl on the TrayGroup CMOFirst page of The Market Moved East, a CV design for a CMOThe Market Moved EastCMOFirst page of The Name Above the Workshop, a CV design for a Group CMOThe Name Above the WorkshopGroup CMOFirst page of The Navy Medium, a CV design for a CMOThe Navy MediumCMOFirst page of The Second Jar, a CV design for a CMOThe Second JarCMOFirst page of The Seventh Shop, a CV design for a Group CMOThe Seventh ShopGroup CMOFirst page of The Station Crossed the Border, a CV design for a Group CMOThe Station Crossed the BorderGroup CMOFirst page of The Third Carton Stayed Blank, a CV design for a Chief Brand OfficerThe Third Carton Stayed BlankChief Brand OfficerFirst page of Tomorrow in Which Postcode, a CV design for a CMOTomorrow in Which PostcodeCMOFirst page of Two Publishers, One Household, a CV design for a Group CMOTwo Publishers, One HouseholdGroup CMOFirst page of Wednesday Had Room, a CV design for a Group CMOWednesday Had RoomGroup CMOFirst page of What Ten Pages Cost, a CV design for a CMOWhat Ten Pages CostCMOFirst page of With the Name Covered, a CV design for a Chief Brand OfficerWith the Name CoveredChief Brand OfficerFirst page of After the Offer Came Down, a CV design for a EVP MarketingAfter the Offer Came DownEVP MarketingFirst page of Six Rupees at the Till, a CV design for a EVP MarketingSix Rupees at the TillEVP MarketingFirst page of The Buyer’s Empty Chair, a CV design for a SVP Brand and GrowthThe Buyer’s Empty ChairSVP Brand and GrowthFirst page of The First Branded Frame, a CV design for a SVP Brand and GrowthThe First Branded FrameSVP Brand and GrowthFirst page of The Headline We Tested Twice, a CV design for a EVP MarketingThe Headline We Tested TwiceEVP MarketingFirst page of The Photograph That Kept Returning, a CV design for a SVP Brand and GrowthThe Photograph That Kept ReturningSVP Brand and GrowthFirst page of The Six Hundred and Sixteenth Pen, a CV design for a EVP MarketingThe Six Hundred and Sixteenth PenEVP MarketingFirst page of The Week the Looms Came In, a CV design for a EVP MarketingThe Week the Looms Came InEVP MarketingFirst page of Thirty Days on the Referral, a CV design for a SVP Brand and GrowthThirty Days on the ReferralSVP Brand and GrowthFirst page of When the Bottle Comes Back, a CV design for a SVP Brand and GrowthWhen the Bottle Comes BackSVP Brand and GrowthFirst page of Before the Reader Opened It, a CV design for a VP GrowthBefore the Reader Opened ItVP GrowthFirst page of Buying Our Own Name, a CV design for a VP GrowthBuying Our Own NameVP GrowthFirst page of Four Nights for the Travel Pages, a CV design for a VP MarketingFour Nights for the Travel PagesVP MarketingFirst page of Outside the Average, a CV design for a VP GrowthOutside the AverageVP GrowthFirst page of Six Files from One Photograph, a CV design for a VP MarketingSix Files from One PhotographVP MarketingFirst page of The Editions the Studios Paid For, a CV design for a VP BrandThe Editions the Studios Paid ForVP BrandFirst page of The Lever Beyond the Crop, a CV design for a VP BrandThe Lever Beyond the CropVP BrandFirst page of The Mark Inside the Cap, a CV design for a VP BrandThe Mark Inside the CapVP BrandFirst page of The Person Who Opened the Lamp, a CV design for a VP BrandThe Person Who Opened the LampVP BrandFirst page of What the Next Buy Earned, a CV design for a VP GrowthWhat the Next Buy EarnedVP GrowthFirst page of Before the Concourse Turn, a CV design for a Head of BrandBefore the Concourse TurnHead of BrandFirst page of The Correction Slip, a CV design for a Director MarketingThe Correction SlipDirector MarketingFirst page of The Hook in the Wool Basket, a CV design for a Category HeadThe Hook in the Wool BasketCategory HeadFirst page of The One-Ink Proof, a CV design for a Head of BrandThe One-Ink ProofHead of BrandFirst page of The Shelf Beside Cedar, a CV design for a Category HeadThe Shelf Beside CedarCategory HeadFirst page of The Two Fields Sales Read, a CV design for a Head of Digital MarketingThe Two Fields Sales ReadHead of Digital MarketingFirst page of The Word After Twenty Seconds, a CV design for a Head of BrandThe Word After Twenty SecondsHead of BrandFirst page of Three Marks Before the First Cup, a CV design for a Director MarketingThree Marks Before the First CupDirector MarketingFirst page of Twenty Centimetres for Refills, a CV design for a Category HeadTwenty Centimetres for RefillsCategory HeadFirst page of Under T for Tiffin, a CV design for a Head of Digital MarketingUnder T for TiffinHead of Digital Marketing

Written for the founders and the lead investor

Your name

CMO

Marketing leader who builds a brand that no longer depends on paid media.

Leads with

  1. Brand built beyond performance spend, with the CAC trend
  2. Contribution margin after marketing, by channel
  3. The growth story you took to investors

Steps back

Campaign awards

Illustrative layout, not a real candidate

A senior leader presenting to a board around a table

Prepare for the bigger seat

CMO to Group CMO / CEO Readiness Audit and Strategy

“I want to know whether I am ready for the bigger seat, and what stands in the way.”

Group CMO and CEO are two different tests, decided by people who rarely tell you why you were passed over. We read your record as they would, say plainly whether it holds, and set out what to do about each gap. The Ascent, further down this page, is a free three-minute rating of yourself. This reads your actual record.

You receiveA private audit with a verdict for the seat you chose, and the strategy to close each gap.

Open the Readiness Audit The full details and the price are on its own page.

Strictly confidential · Prepared for you alone

Readiness Audit

CMO to Group CMO

VerdictClose, with two gaps to fill

  • Marketing Effectiveness & ReturnEvidenced
  • Group Brand ArchitecturePartial
  • Marketing Investment Across BusinessesNot yet evidenced
  • Corporate Reputation & CommunicationsEvidenced
  • Leading Other Marketing LeadersPartial

First moveOwn the brand budget review across two businesses in the next cycle.

Illustrative layout

  • Your record read against ten dimensions for the seat you chose
  • Each one rated: evidenced, partial or not yet evidenced
  • What to start, stop and amplify, in a dated sequence
  • A plain answer, including "not yet" when that is the truth

How they work together

Each stands alone. Together, they cover the whole move.

  1. A private conversation about a next move
    Before you move

    Know where to go, and whether you are ready for the seat you want.

  2. A personal website design, shown with a fictional leader
    Before anyone looks

    Make sure that what they find is clear, current and yours.

  3. A private door opening onto a quiet room
    While you keep working

    Hear what is opening up, without being seen looking.

  4. Senior leaders reviewing a document at a table
    When a role appears

    Present your record for the people who will read it first.

Senior leaders on a panel in front of an audience

Why a search firm

We know how these records get read, because we read them.

Gladwin International is an executive search firm, with 75+ CMO placements since 2010. The Career Desk puts that knowledge on your side of the table: what a chair, a Nomination & Remuneration Committee or a promoter looks for, before they ever call.

The line we hold

The Search Desk works for boards. The Career Desk works for you.

  • Buying here does not put you on a shortlist for our retained searches, and not buying does not keep you off one.
  • We do not contact your employer, and nothing about you is published unless you approve it.

Before you begin

Questions about the desk

Where should I begin if I am not sure?

If you do not know whether to move, begin with the Career Strategy. If you already have a bigger seat in mind, begin with the Readiness Audit. If a role is in front of you now, begin with the document for it.

Do I have to buy more than one?

No. Each service stands alone, with its own page and its own order.

Will my employer find out?

We do not contact your employer. Nothing is published unless you approve it, and Whisper never contacts anyone in your name.

Do I need an account?

No. You can order from each service’s own page with secure Razorpay payment, and your GST invoice comes to your email. The Personal Website is ordered through its packages.

Can any of this get me a role?

No one can promise a role, and we do not. These services prepare you and keep you informed. The appointment is decided by the people who appoint.

The Ascent

CMO → CEO Readiness Audit

The CMO role has evolved from brand custodian to growth architect. CMOs who bridge the gap between creativity and commercial impact have a clear path to the CEO chair.

Start Your Audit

Takes 3 minutes · 10 dimensions · Personalised gap analysis