The CMO Circle, Nigeria’s premier invitation-only forum for Chief Marketing Officers and senior marketing executives, has announced Iquo Ukoh and Lolu Akinwunmi as Co-Chairs for its 2026 convening.
The high-level executive platform, convened by MarkHack in partnership with StatiSense and Brand Communicator, brings together influential marketing leaders to shape conversations around business growth, innovation, and policy direction in Nigeria.
Organisers said the CMO Circle operates at the intersection of enterprise leadership and national development, with a focus on positioning marketing leaders as key contributors to economic and policy conversations.
A major feature of the initiative is the quarterly CMO Index, a publication designed to aggregate executive sentiment, market intelligence, and forward-looking insights aimed at informing business strategy and policy discussions.
As Co-Chairs, Ukoh and Akinwunmi are expected to lead strategic conversations around innovation, talent development, enterprise growth, and the evolving role of Chief Marketing Officers within executive leadership structures.
Ukoh, Chief Executive Officer of Entod Marketing and former Director of Marketing Services at Nestlé Nigeria, is recognised for her contributions to brand strategy, consumer engagement, and storytelling in marketing.
Akinwunmi, Group CEO of Prima Garnet, brings decades of experience in brand communications and advisory services for major local and multinational companies.
Speaking on the announcement, Victor Gbenga Afolabi said the platform was intentionally designed to elevate marketing leadership beyond traditional business discussions.
“The CMO Circle is intentionally designed as a premium, outcomes-driven platform — one that moves marketing leadership beyond the boardroom into the sphere of policy influence,” he said.
According to him, the appointment of Ukoh and Akinwunmi reflects the Circle’s commitment to authority, depth, and relevance in shaping industry direction and policy dialogue.
The inaugural 2026 session, themed “The C-Suite Mandate: Talent Density and Marketing Leadership,” is expected to convene a curated network of CMOs and business executives from across Nigeria.
Organisers said the gathering would reinforce the Circle’s position as a strategic platform for executive collaboration, peer exchange, and policy-relevant insights within Nigeria’s marketing ecosystem.