ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Lack of AI literacy will soon be among top reasons CMOs are replaced

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2026

Study finds a disconnect between CMOs anticipating AI disruption and recognising the personal transformation required to lead it.

Sixty-five percent of chief marketing officers say advances in AI will dramatically change the role of the CMO in the next two years. Yet only 32% say significant changes are needed to the CMO profile and skill set. 

 

This is according to a survey published by Gartner, the international business and technology insights company. Survey work was conducted in mid-late 2025 among 402 senior marketing leaders in North America and Europe. 

 

The researchers found that, as AI becomes increasingly central to enterprise growth and competitive advantage, AI literacy is being elevated into a board-level leadership expectation at large enterprises.

 

Consequently, Gartner predicts that, by 2027, a lack of AI literacy will rank among the top three reasons chief marketing officers are replaced. 

CMOs must build AI literacy. Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

“CMOs are not ignoring AI; most are expecting the role to change,” says Lizzy Foo Kune of the Gartner Marketing practice. “But the data points to a disconnect between anticipating disruption and recognising the personal transformation required to lead it.  

 

“CMOs must build the literacy to prioritise high-impact use cases, validate outputs and manage risk. Otherwise, AI becomes something happening around them, not something they lead.” 

 

AI is exposing a leadership fluency gap 

 

Many CMOs first encounter AI through operational use cases – such as content generation, analytics and workflow automation. This can reinforce an ‘efficiency tool’ mindset and push AI ownership to internal teams, external agencies, or the IT department.  

 

Gartner believes this approach fails to elevate AI into a leadership capability tied to growth strategy, decision-making and experimentation. 

 

“CMOs can’t treat AI as something the team ‘uses’ while leadership stays on the sidelines,” comments Foo Kune.  

 

“The leaders who will thrive will prioritise a small set of high-impact use cases tied to measurable outcomes, build fluency in model limitations, and institutionalise output validation.  

 

“They should also hold agencies accountable for governance and demonstrated value, and convene a C-suite community of practice to accelerate experimentation and alignment to enterprise priorities.” 

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Jason Lottering
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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.