Observed Signal · Aug 20, 2026 · Award · Source: persoenlich.com News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Raphael Werner Named CMO of the Year 2026
Raphael Werner, Denner's marketing chief, was awarded "CMO of the Year Switzerland 2026" by the Serviceplan Group Switzerland at the fifth edition of the award. A jury of 18 representatives from business, marketing, media and academia evaluated candidates using dossiers compiled by the Institute for Marketing & Customer Insight at the University of St.Gallen. Werner, who began his career at Lidl and now leads Marketing, Promotions, Digital Business and Customer Insights at Denner, was recognized for culturally relevant, data-driven customer leadership and bold brand communication. The award night took place at LaSalle in Schiffbau Zürich and the initiative is run by Serviceplan Group Switzerland in partnership with multiple Swiss industry organisations and media partners.
National industry award recognizing marketing leadership at a major Swiss retailer; relevant to brand and agency communities but not industry-shifting.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Raphael Werner of Denner was named 'CMO of the Year Switzerland 2026'.
- The Serviceplan Group Switzerland organized the award and an 18-member jury selected the winner.
- Dossiers for the selection were prepared by the Institute for Marketing & Customer Insight at the University of St.Gallen.
- Werner oversees Marketing, Promotions, Digital Business and Customer Insights at Denner and previously worked at Lidl in Switzerland and Belgium.
- The award initiative partners include Admeira, APG, 20 Minuten, persönlich-Verlag, M&K and Swiss Marketing; the event was held at LaSalle in Schiffbau Zürich.
Connected Companies & Entities
4 Entities mapped“Werner started his career at Lidl in Switzerland and in Belgium before moving to Denner....”
“Among the nominees were Antonia Lepore (AXA)....”
“The 'CMO of the Year' is an initiative of Serviceplan Group Switzerland in partnership with Admeira, APG, 20 Minuten, the persönlich-Verlag,...”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
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Denner CMO Raphael Werner Announces Departure
Raphael Werner, Denner's Head of Customer and marketing lead, has announced his departure from the Swiss discounter in an exclusive interview with persoenlich.com published on 2026-08-25. Named "CMO of the Year" the week before, Werner said the award marked a fitting endpoint and that the timing was right to pursue a new professional challenge; he did not disclose his next move and denied political reasons played a role. During two years at Denner he oversaw Marketing, Promotions, Digital Business and Customer Insights, leading visible initiatives such as the football short film "The Socceritos", sponsorship of the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship and a public stunt involving Lidl's logo. Werner praised his teams and noted Denner works with several specialized agencies.
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.
dm CEO Christoph Werner Named Marketingman of the Year
Christoph Werner, Chairman of the Management Board of dm‑Drogeriemarkt, was named HORIZONT's "Marketingman of the Year". In a published interview, Werner discusses his leadership approach, the role of marketing at dm and the drivers behind the brand's success. The piece was written by Eva‑Maria Schmidt and published on HORIZONT on 2026‑06‑08. The article is a profile-style interview that highlights Werner's stewardship of the company and marketing strategy.
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