Observed Signal · Jun 23, 2026 · Award · Source: persoenlich.com News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Julia Goldin Wins European CMO of the Year
Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the Lego Group, was chosen as the inaugural "European CMO of the Year" on 23 June 2026 in Cannes. The award was initiated by Serviceplan Group together with Samsung Ads, The Trade Desk, SevenOneMedia and the University of St. Gallen (HSG), with the winner selected via the Serviceplan/HSG CMO Barometer panel of roughly 800 European marketing leaders. Goldin was recognised for extending the Lego brand into entertainment, sport and gaming and for franchise partnerships (Star Wars, Marvel, Fortnite) and campaigns such as "She Built That." The award ceremony featured over 100 marketing executives and a keynote on generative AI by Nina Schick.
Industry recognition for a major brand's CMO and involvement of ad‑industry partners (Samsung Ads, The Trade Desk) is noteworthy for marketing and brand strategy but does not represent a major technical, policy, or market-structuring event for AdTech/MarTech.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Julia Goldin is Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the Lego Group.
- Goldin was selected as the first "European CMO of the Year" on 2026-06-23 in Cannes.
- The award was initiated by Serviceplan Group with partners Samsung Ads, The Trade Desk, SevenOneMedia and the University of St. Gallen (HSG).
- Selection was conducted via the Serviceplan CMO Barometer panel, comprising about 800 European marketing leaders.
- The ceremony included 100+ European marketing leaders and a keynote by AI strategist Nina Schick on generative AI.
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Julia Goldin named European CMO of the Year 2026
Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the LEGO Group, was awarded the newly created "European CMO of the Year" during the Cannes Lions festival. The recognition, presented for the first time at the event, honors her strategic, creative and cultural leadership of LEGO's brand in Europe. The report was published by HORIZONT on 2026-06-22 and authored by Eva‑Maria Schmidt.
Lego CMO Julia Goldin: Saying No Strengthens Brand
Adweek's Marketing Vanguard at Cannes series features an on-stage conversation between host Jenny Rooney and Julia Goldin, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Lego. Recorded live at Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman, the discussion covers how Lego evolved from a children's toy maker into a multi-generational creative experience by protecting brand authenticity, making disciplined choices (including saying no), accepting risk and learning from mistakes. Goldin discusses product accessibility for time‑pressed adults, technology-enhanced play via Lego SmartPlay, and how large partnerships (e.g., Formula 1, World Cup campaigns) can transcend product launches to build cultural relevance.
CMO of the Year: CMO Role Has Fundamentally Changed
An interview marking the fifth Swiss edition of the "CMO of the Year" award highlights how the CMO role has shifted from pure communication and brand management to include transformation leadership, data expertise, innovation, customer experience, sustainability and economic efficiency. The article names six nominees for CMO of the Year 2026 (Veronika Elsener, Andrea Hänggi, Antonia Lepore, Jens Plath, Roman Reichelt, Raphael Werner) and confirms the award-night on 20 August 2026 at LaSalle im Schiffbau. The selection process is multi-stage, led by a jury and supported by the Institute for Marketing & Customer Insight at the University of St. Gallen. Serviceplan created the award; a European edition debuted in Cannes in 2026. Partners include Admeira, APG, 20 Minuten, m&k, persönlich, Swiss Marketing and the University of St. Gallen institute.
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