CMO Council Honors Google

Celebrating Marketing Excellence at the CMO Council Awards

On December 8, the CMO Council gathered at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, to honor three standout marketing leaders from Google, HP, and SAP. The ceremony marked the inaugural launch of the CMO of the Year award program, which seeks to spotlight those who blend visionary strategy with tangible business outcomes. The event was more than a gala; it was a showcase of the impact that adept marketing can have on growth, brand perception, and overall competitive advantage.

The award process began with an online ballot distributed to 1,000 CMO Council members. Participants evaluated finalists across a range of categories, focusing on metrics such as business value creation, momentum building, and transformation. The list of 2004 finalists included industry heavyweights like AMD, Cisco, Dell, EMC, Google, Hewlett‑Packard, Mercury Interactive, palmOne, Salesforce.com, and SAP. Each contender had demonstrated leadership that went beyond traditional marketing functions, steering their organizations toward measurable success.

After rigorous deliberation, the council announced three winners who embodied the spirit of the categories. Jonathan Rosenberg, Google’s VP of Product Marketing, earned the title of CMO of the Year in the Business Value, Growth, and Creation category. His campaign strategies were credited with driving significant revenue increases and strengthening Google’s market positioning. Meanwhile, Martin Homlish of SAP was honored in the Continual Momentum Building category, reflecting his ability to sustain long‑term brand relevance amid a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Allison Johnson, HP’s SVP of Corporate Marketing, captured the Transformation and Uplift award. Her initiatives focused on revitalizing HP’s brand narrative and aligning marketing efforts with broader corporate goals, resulting in a notable uptick in market share. Each winner’s story was shared in detail during the ceremony, highlighting specific tactics, creative campaigns, and leadership decisions that translated into measurable outcomes.

The awards were presented by Geoff Dodge, the publisher of BusinessWeek, who emphasized the critical role of marketing in shaping business performance. Dodge noted that “marketing can profoundly impact competitiveness when it is driven by clear strategy and strong leadership.” He also underscored the council’s commitment to recognizing the unique contributions that marketing teams make to their organizations.

BusinessWeek served as the presenting sponsor for the awards, and other key sponsors included Prophet and C3 Expo. In‑kind sponsors contributed through services and partnerships, adding depth to the event’s celebration of marketing excellence. The ceremony not only honored individual achievements but also highlighted the collaborative ecosystem that supports innovative marketing practices across industries.

For the winners, the recognition extends beyond the night of applause. Each will receive a full‑page advertisement in the December 20 issue of BusinessWeek, a platform that will amplify their accomplishments to a wide audience of business leaders and marketers. This exposure underscores the council’s intent to elevate exemplary marketing practices, inspiring peers to adopt similar strategies and elevate their own organizations.

The CMO Council’s focus on business value, momentum, and transformation offers a fresh lens through which to evaluate marketing success. By aligning awards with concrete business metrics, the council demonstrates that marketing is no longer a standalone function but a core driver of corporate growth. The event in Mountain View served as a reminder that leadership, vision, and creativity are the ingredients that propel companies forward in an ever‑changing market.

Industry Recognition, Partnerships, and Future Outlook

Beyond the celebration of individual achievements, the CMO Council awards highlighted the broader ecosystem that enables marketing innovation. BusinessWeek’s sponsorship brought significant visibility to the council’s objectives, reinforcing the partnership between media and marketing professionals. The inclusion of sponsors like Prophet and C3 Expo showcased the depth of expertise available to marketers seeking to deepen their strategic capabilities.

In‑kind sponsors such as Restaurant O, Russo Winery, and ProExhibits played a crucial role in creating a memorable event atmosphere. Their contributions demonstrate how non‑traditional partners can support the marketing community by providing unique experiences that reinforce the narrative of creativity and collaboration. These alliances underscore the importance of cross‑industry cooperation in fostering marketing excellence.

The awards also set a precedent for how marketing achievements are measured. By anchoring recognition in categories that reflect real business outcomes - growth, momentum, transformation - the council signals a shift toward more data‑driven evaluation. This approach encourages marketers to tie campaigns directly to revenue streams and brand health metrics, making their work more transparent to senior leadership.

For organizations looking to emulate the success of the award winners, there are tangible lessons to extract. Jonathan Rosenberg’s focus on product marketing demonstrates the power of aligning feature narratives with consumer needs to drive adoption. Martin Homlish’s momentum‑building tactics reveal the importance of sustaining brand relevance through consistent, customer‑centric storytelling. Allison Johnson’s transformation initiatives highlight the role of brand alignment in supporting corporate restructuring and market repositioning.

Future iterations of the CMO of the Year awards are likely to expand both in scope and impact. As the council gathers more data on marketing performance, it can refine its criteria to reflect emerging trends such as digital customer experience, data privacy, and sustainability. The awards will continue to serve as a benchmark for marketing excellence, encouraging firms to innovate and adopt best practices that deliver tangible results.

The partnership between the CMO Council and BusinessWeek provides a powerful platform for amplifying marketing insights. By featuring award recipients in a full‑page advertisement, the council not only rewards individual success but also shares actionable strategies with a broader audience. This symbiotic relationship between media and marketing talent fosters a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge exchange.

In the months following the ceremony, many attendees noted the renewed sense of purpose that the awards inspired. Marketers felt validated in their roles and empowered to push boundaries, knowing that their work has the potential to shape company direction. The council’s commitment to celebrating business‑driven marketing reinforces the narrative that marketing is an indispensable lever for growth and innovation.

As companies navigate an increasingly complex market environment, the CMO Council awards underscore the value of strategic marketing leadership. By recognizing those who deliver measurable business outcomes, the council helps define the standards for success in a field that balances creativity with accountability. The event in Mountain View will be remembered not just for the glitz and glamour but for its lasting influence on how marketing excellence is defined, measured, and celebrated.