On Thursday, June 22, Marc Mathieu, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics America, was recognized as one of the 50 World’s Most Influential CMOs.  The list was unveiled at a a luncheon and panel discussion during the 64th Annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Securing the number six spot, Marc was recognized for his creativity and innovation, as well as his leadership in helping to reinvent, rebuild and elevate Samsung Electronics America’s marketing to a new standard.

Marc and his team are ushering in a new marketing playbook with three main pillars: Be Human. Be Real. Be Iconic. Through this new approach, the focus is on humanizing the brand across all marketing platforms and reimagining the way Samsung interacts with consumers – by connecting with them on an emotional level and in a way that demonstrates how the company’s technology and services can solve problems and ultimately empower them to break barriers and unlock their potential.

Marc noted, “The beautiful thing about working for Samsung is that it’s a company that encourages you to take risks and to be innovative; this has allowed me to continue to evolve our marketing playbook.”

CMO of Samsung Electronics America, Marc Matheiu, joins Creators on stage

CMO of Samsung Electronics America, Marc Matheiu, joins Creators on stage

Marc was instrumental in the development of Samsung 837 in New York City, a first-of-its-kind cultural destination, digital playground and marketing center of excellence that opened in 2016. Focused on emotionally connecting with U.S. consumers through a human-first approach, Marc continuously sparks excitement about Samsung’s ecosystem of technology and services through innovative marketing.

Prior to receiving the top honor, Marc along with fellow CMO honorees Keith Weed from Unilever, Raja Rajamannar from Mastercard and Antonio Lucio from HP, took to the stage for an open conversation among peers regarding the evolving role of CMOs and their impact on the brand, company culture, business growth and industry at large. Moderated by Jennifer Rooney, Editor of Forbes CMO Network, the session opened with questions for each CMO on their changing role and respective impact in today’s marketing landscape, what challenges they face and opportunities they see.


Marc Mathieu
Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics America
Marc Mathieu, chief marketing officer at Samsung Electronics America, is a storied marketing veteran known for developing talent, digital innovation, and driving big ideas across the business. As CMO, he leads U.S.–based marketing across all lines of the company’s business including home entertainment, home appliances, and telecommunications. He also leads the Global Marketing Center of Excellence, designed as an incubator for marketing innovation and excellence across the company.
Prior to joining Samsung he served as the senior vice president of global marketing at Unilever where he launched the “Crafting Brands for Life” campaign and drove the company’s global marketing strategy. Mathieu also served as senior vice president of global brand marketing at Coca-Cola, where he is credited with branding Coke’s turnaround with the “Open Happiness” strategy and the “Coke Side of Life” global campaign.