Media OutReach
The Marketing Society and Ekimetrics Launch ‘The CMO Tension Report’
New report finds the real source of CMO complexity is not external but organisational, reframing modern marketing leadership as, at its core, a decision problem
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 May 2026 – The Marketing Society, in partnership with marketing effectiveness consultancy Ekimetrics, today launches The CMO Tension Report, a new piece of research drawing on conversations with 14 Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and business leaders across Asia-Pacific.
The report surfaces something that many marketing leaders are already living but rarely see reflected back clearly: that the complexity facing CMOs today is not simply external. It is organisational and, at its core, a decision problem.
Fragmented structures, misaligned KPIs, and unclear ownership across functions are making it increasingly difficult for senior marketers to make confident, cohesive decisions. CMOs have more data and tools at their disposal than ever before, but the challenge now is clarity. This gap in clarity widens the distance between what businesses are ambitious to achieve and what marketing leaders can realistically deliver.
What makes the report timely is the consistency of what it found. 14 senior leaders across different sectors and markets described a remarkably similar set of pressures, not as isolated trends, but as forces converging at once: the tension between short-term ROI and long-term brand value; the friction created by fragmented measurement and ownership across the business; the role of AI, which leaders broadly acknowledge improves efficiency but does not resolve how decisions are made or who is accountable for them.
Sophie Devonshire, CEO of The Marketing Society, said “At The Marketing Society, we’ve long held that marketing is the key driver of growth in business. And yet, when we talk to our members across the world, we keep hearing the same thing, that the biggest tension CMOs face is bridging the gap between the business’s ambition to grow and the reality of delivering that growth. That tension plays out across multiple dimensions simultaneously — AI, creativity, measurement, ownership, short-term versus long-term — and in a region as vast and varied as APAC, every one of those dimensions is amplified. We brought together 14 marketers from 13 organisations to share how they are navigating this in their daily lives. What came through clearly is that the fundamentals of marketing remain constant. What is changing, and will keep changing, is how we apply them. This report exists to help the marketing community learn how to do exactly that.”
Olivier Kuziner, Managing Partner APAC at Ekimetrics, said “At Ekimetrics, we believe the defining leadership challenge for modern marketing is orchestrating short-term and long-term performance together through better decision making. That belief is what drew us to this research, and what the report confirms. The CMOs we spoke to across APAC are operating in an environment where data abundance, channel fragmentation, and performance culture have accelerated decision cycles, while shrinking patience for long-term returns. The risk, and we see it consistently, is organisations mistaking efficiency for effectiveness, and optimisation for transformation. Value comes from fixing the system; the measurement frameworks, the shared definitions of success, the cross-functional alignment. This report makes that case through the voices of leaders who are working through it in real time.”
Underlying all of it is a broader shift in what is expected of marketing, from execution to strategic growth engine. The report examines not just the tensions CMOs are navigating, but what organisations need to change: clearer decision-making frameworks, better cross-functional alignment, and a shared understanding of how marketing creates value over time.
The CMO Tension Report is available to view and download at https://heyzine.com/flip-book/cmotensionreport.html.
Hashtag: #TheMarketingSociety #Ekimetrics #CMOTensionReport
https://www.marketingsociety.com
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About The Marketing Society
The Marketing Society is the influential global community that expands perspectives on what marketers can achieve, founded in 1959, in a pub as a not-for-profit organisation. Since then, we have grown to become a highly influential community of marketing leaders around the world, with hubs in England (HQ), Scotland, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and New York.
Connecting the brightest voices in marketing to unlock the best of each other through accelerated growth, actionable inspiration, and influential connections.
At a time when marketers have never been more crucial as the people-centric growth engine of business, we recognise their essential role amid complexity and change. By bringing together marketing’s brightest voices, we help them do well, do good and feel good whilst collectively elevating marketing’s influence and impact. We are for marketers who mean business.
That’s why The Marketing Society exists, to unite global change leaders to accelerate responsible business growth. Together, we achieve more.
Through the connections of our 3,000+ Membership community, a world-class programme of events, ground-breaking professional development programmes, prestigious Awards scheme, publications, and insightful content, we help empower our members to lead success in their organisations and add value to customers and society, leading the conversation in businesses and the industry.
Media OutReach
MarsLab Introduces Singapore-Based AI Inference Infrastructure Roadmap for Enterprise and Edge Deployment
MarsLab outlines a system-first approach to AI inference infrastructure for enterprise and edge deployment scenarios.
Hashtag: #AIInfrastructure #AIInference #EdgeAI #EnterpriseAI #Singapore
https://www.marslabai.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/marslab-ai/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About MarsLab Pte Ltd
MarsLab Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based AI inference infrastructure company focused on enterprise and edge AI deployment scenarios. The company works across hardware systems, software stack integration, workload validation, and deployment economics, with a system-first approach to practical AI infrastructure.
Under the agreement, ACx and ALMI will share methodologies and best practices in mall asset operations, leasing strategy and project development to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience and maximize the long-term value of CP AXTRA’s land and assets, initially focusing on seven key stores of Makro. The parties will also explore future investment opportunities related to mall and asset development in Thailand, alongside collaborative initiatives for the development of new sites and the redevelopment of existing CP AXTRA sites across the country. This is the third agreement signed between CP AXTRA and Ayala, underscoring the strong partnership and continued collaboration between the two groups, following their previous agreements to operate Makro in the Philippines and expand regional business opportunities.
“This agreement with Ayala allows us to combine CP AXTRA’s deep understanding of the Thai retail market with Ayala’s decades of experience in developing and leasing shopping mall spaces. By applying proven methodologies to our Makro mall, we aim to elevate the standards of the retail environment we offer, not only improving the experience for our shoppers and tenants, but also fostering sustainable growth and creating long-term value for our asset and the surrounding community,” said Tanit Chearavanont, Group Chief Wholesale Business Officer, CP AXTRA Public Company Limited.”
“This is another milestone in our growing relationship and collaboration with the CP Group. Through this partnership, we intend to leverage the complementary strengths of two leading conglomerates to create world-class retail and real estate developments across markets. This also marks Ayala’s entry into the Thailand market, giving us a strong opportunity not only to share our expertise, but also to gain valuable insights from one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and developed retail markets. More broadly, this partnership aligns with Ayala’s strategy of bringing the best of the world to the Philippines while showcasing the best of the Philippines to the world,” said Mark Uy, Managing Director and Group Head of Strategy and Business Development, Ayala Corporation.
“Makro’s nationwide footprint gives it a meaningful role in the everyday lives of Thai consumers. Our opportunity is to help turn that everyday relevance into places people choose to stay, explore, and return to. By combining CP AXTRA’s market knowledge with Ayala Malls’ experience in curating retail partners, improving customer journeys, and building community-oriented retail destinations, we believe these sites can become stronger platforms for shoppers, merchant partners, and long-term asset growth,” said Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Managing Director and Group Head of Leasing and Hospitality of Ayala Land.
The collaboration brings two complementary strengths together. CP AXTRA is one of ASEAN’s leading wholesale and retail operators, with more than 2,700 Makro and Lotus’s stores. The company is a regional leader in multi-format, omnichannel retail platforms across Southeast Asia and is advancing toward retail-tech company. ALMI, is one of the Philippines’ leading mall operators, managing 34 shopping centers recognized for their strong retail planning, curated tenant mix, and enhanced customer experience across Southeast Asia. With extensive expertise in leasing, mall operations, facility management, and mixed-use development, ALMI is well positioned to support CP AXTRA in maximizing the value and potential of its Makro mall assets in Thailand. Ayala Corporation also brings a broader consumer and enterprise ecosystem that can complement CP AXTRA’s regional retail expansion, while ACx, its consumer retail unit, adds perspective on evolving customer behavior, format innovation, and retail partnerships.
The MoC builds on the two groups’ existing strategic partnership, which began in 2025 with the formation of CP AXTRA AC CORPORATION to operate Makro stores in the Philippines and was expanded to include a wider range of collaborative opportunities. This new agreement deepens that partnership further, marking the first time Ayala will bring its mall development and leasing expertise directly to CP AXTRA’s operations in Thailand.
Hashtag: #CPAXTRA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About CP AXTRA
CP AXTRA Public Company Limited, is an operator of Asia’s leading wholesaler and retailer, Makro and Lotus’s. The Company is based in Thailand, with operation across 10 countries. CP AXTRA is committed to fulfilling people’s lives with good health, love, joy, and well-being, by providing solutions and meeting customers’ daily needs with technology, innovation, and operational excellence. With over 30 years of retail experience, CP AXTRA is a trusted partner for both B2B and B2C customers, offering a comprehensive range of products and services. Today, it manages over 2,700 offline stores in Thailand and Asia, with strong online presence.
About Ayala Corporation
For more than 190 years, Ayala Corporation has been building businesses that enable people to thrive.
Ayala, currently one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, has meaningful presence in real estate, banking, digital services and telecommunications, and renewable energy. It likewise has a growing presence in healthcare, mobility, and logistics as well as investments in industrial technologies, education, and other ventures. Ayala manages its corporate social responsibility initiatives through Ayala Foundation.
About Ayala Malls
Ayala Malls is the premier lifestyle mall network in the Philippines, known for creating vibrant, well-curated destinations that bring together shopping, dining, culture, and community experiences. With 34 malls nationwide, Ayala Malls continues to lead in elevating the Filipino retail experience by offering a diverse mix of global and local brands, innovative spaces, and enriching events that celebrate local creativity and inclusivity. As part of Ayala Land, the country’s leading real estate developer, Ayala Malls is committed to building dynamic, sustainable spaces where people can connect, thrive, and enjoy life’s everyday moments.
Media OutReach
Aon Brings Leadership Forum to Manila to Help Organisations Navigate Risks and Drive Growth
The event is expected to convene more than 70 C-suite and senior business leaders from top organisations across the Philippines for a closed-door exchange on managing economic, workforce, climate and operational pressures. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the forum aims to foster practical insights and strategies that help organisations navigate uncertainty, protect their businesses and drive sustainable growth.
The program will be officially opened by Karl Hamann, CEO of Philippines for Aon, followed by a keynote from Andrew Jeffries, country director for the Asian Development Bank on the macroeconomic and geopolitical trends shaping the business environment.
Notable speakers include Terence Williams, head of Commercial Risk in Asia Pacific for Aon, and other firm executives alongside external regional leaders, including Annacel Natividad, chief risk officer and sustainability head for Aboitiz Foods Group, and Raymond Martin Aguilar, vice president and head of risk and property management for Globe Telecom, Inc.
“This forum reflects a fundamental shift in how organisations are evolving their approach to risk,” said Williams. “Across Asia Pacific, we are seeing a growing focus on using data and analytics to understand trade-offs, test scenarios and act with greater confidence. Bringing leaders together to share practical experience is critical to strengthening resilience while continuing to drive growth.”
A central feature of the forum will be a C-suite panel on adaptive leadership in a digital world, where senior leaders will share how they are balancing risk, resilience and growth, and the decisions shaping their organisations today. The session will be moderated by Irma Gaviola, head of Commercial Risk, Philippines for Aon.
The program will include risk masterclasses focused on key enterprise exposures, including cyber and climate risks, exploring how organisations can quantify risk, strengthen resilience and design more effective risk transfer strategies.
Participants will also be introduced to Aon’s Risk Analyzers, an interactive environment where clients can experience a suite of analytics-led tools that support scenario testing and supports better risk capital decisions. The tools are designed to help organisations assess exposures and evaluate strategic choices in real time.
“The Philippines sits at the intersection of strong economic growth and increasing risk complexity, said Hamann. “This forum creates a space for candid dialogue and practical insights to help organisations navigate risk with greater clarity and confidence.”
The Better Decisions Leadership Forum is part of Aon’s ongoing commitment to helping organisations turn insight into action – enabling more informed decision-making to protect and grow their business.
Hashtag: #Aon
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.
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Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavours to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research.
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