Skip to content Join the IRG Community

IRG Marketing2030 Istanbul Summit

 

The rapid acceleration of AI, rising geopolitical fragmentation, increasing distrust and pressure for short-term performance are fundamentally reshaping how businesses grow. At the same time, Boards and business leaders are asking a bigger question: what role should Marketing play beyond Marketing?

The Institute for Real Growth’s Marketing2030 initiative was created to answer this question. Built on interviews with 500+ global leaders and analysis of thousands of reports, investor calls and leadership discussions, Marketing2030 explores how organizations must evolve to drive sustainable enterprise growth in a rapidly changing world.

The Istanbul Summit will bring together global and regional CMOs, business leaders, growth experts and industry partners to launch and discuss the findings of Marketing2030 for the first time in Istanbul.

Across conversations, workshops and peer discussions, the Summit will explore how Marketing can evolve into a true enterprise growth driver in this new era.

Istanbul CMO Summit Timings

October 6, 2026

Welcome dinner

October 7, 2026

Human Led/Human Powered

8:00 9:00 1:00 Coffee and Breakfast
9:00 9:30 0:30 Welcome, Framing & Introductions
9:30 10:00 0:30 Session 1
10:00 10:30 0:30 Panel 1
10:30 11:00 0:30 Coffee Break
11:00 11:30 0:30 Session 2
11:30 11:50 0:20 Session 3
11:50 12:30 0:40 30 min table discussion & Plenary feedback
12:30 13:30 1:00 Lunch
13:30 14:00 0:30 Session 4
14:00 15:00 1:00 Panel 4
15:00 15:30 0:30 Coffee Break
15:30 16:00 0:30 Session 5
16:00 16:30 0:30 Panel 5
16:30 17:00 0:30 20 min Table discussion & Plenary Feedback
17:00 17:30 0:30 Transfer
17:30 18:30 1:00 Istanbul experience
18:30 18:45 0:15 Transfer
18:45 22:00 3:15 Dinner
October 8, 2026

AI Enabled/AI Enhanced

8:00 9:00 1:00 Coffee and Breakfast
9:00 9:10 0:10 Welcome, Recap, Intro
9:10 9:40 0:30 Session 6
9:40 10:00 0:20 Session 7
10:00 10:30 0:30 Session 8
10:30 11:00 0:30 Coffee Break
11:00 11:30 0:30 Session 9
11:30 12:00 0:30 Workshop
12:00 12:30 0:30 Discussion session
12:30 13:00 0:30 Transport
13:00 14:00 1:00 Lunch
14:00 14:30 0:30 Istanbul experience
14:30 15:30 1:00 Session 10
15:30 16:30 1:00 Session 11
16:30 17:00 0:30 Coffee Break
17:00 18:00 1:00 Session 12
18:00 19:30 1:30 Cocktails and connect
19:30 20:00 0:30 Transport for Dinner
20:00 22:00 2:00 Dinner

Topics to be covered:

 

Marketing 2030
Agency 2030
Enterprise Growth Architecture 2.0
Human Quotient
Global scale with deep local understanding
Stagility
AI Efficiency and Human Meaning
Inspiration from some of the world’s biggest brands and most influential CMOs.

Speakers & Contributors (TBC)

Aljan de Boer

IRG

Find out more

Ash Tailor

London Business School

Find out more

Cindy Tervoort

IRG

Find out more

David Edelman

Edelman Advisory Services

Find out more

Daniela Lobo

IRG

Find out more

Dean Aragon

Shell Brands

Find out more

Frank van den Driest

Human Quotient

Find out more

Gian Martinez

Winnin

Find out more

Javier Olivan

Meta

Find out more

Jill Cress

H&R Block

Find out more

Marc de Swaan Arons

IRG

Find out more

Mariana Peneva

IRG

Find out more

Sophie Devonshire

The Marketing Society

Find out more

Tariq Hassan

Mc Donalds / PetCo

Find out more

IRG Partners

IRG Marketing2030 Istanbul Summit

 

The rapid acceleration of AI, rising geopolitical fragmentation, increasing distrust and pressure for short-term performance are fundamentally reshaping how businesses grow. At the same time, Boards and business leaders are asking a bigger question: what role should Marketing play beyond Marketing?

The Institute for Real Growth’s Marketing2030 initiative was created to answer this question. Built on interviews with 500+ global leaders and analysis of thousands of reports, investor calls and leadership discussions, Marketing2030 explores how organizations must evolve to drive sustainable enterprise growth in a rapidly changing world.

The Istanbul Summit will bring together global and regional CMOs, business leaders, growth experts and industry partners to launch and discuss the findings of Marketing2030 for the first time in Istanbul.

Across conversations, workshops and peer discussions, the Summit will explore how Marketing can evolve into a true enterprise growth driver in this new era.

Istanbul CMO Summit Timings

October 6, 2026

Welcome dinner

October 7, 2026

Human Led/Human Powered

8:00 9:00 1:00 Coffee and Breakfast
9:00 9:30 0:30 Welcome, Framing & Introductions
9:30 10:00 0:30 Session 1
10:00 10:30 0:30 Panel 1
10:30 11:00 0:30 Coffee Break
11:00 11:30 0:30 Session 2
11:30 11:50 0:20 Session 3
11:50 12:30 0:40 30 min table discussion & Plenary feedback
12:30 13:30 1:00 Lunch
13:30 14:00 0:30 Session 4
14:00 15:00 1:00 Panel 4
15:00 15:30 0:30 Coffee Break
15:30 16:00 0:30 Session 5
16:00 16:30 0:30 Panel 5
16:30 17:00 0:30 20 min Table discussion & Plenary Feedback
17:00 17:30 0:30 Transfer
17:30 18:30 1:00 Istanbul experience
18:30 18:45 0:15 Transfer
18:45 22:00 3:15 Dinner
October 8, 2026

AI Enabled/AI Enhanced

8:00 9:00 1:00 Coffee and Breakfast
9:00 9:10 0:10 Welcome, Recap, Intro
9:10 9:40 0:30 Session 6
9:40 10:00 0:20 Session 7
10:00 10:30 0:30 Session 8
10:30 11:00 0:30 Coffee Break
11:00 11:30 0:30 Session 9
11:30 12:00 0:30 Workshop
12:00 12:30 0:30 Discussion session
12:30 13:00 0:30 Transport
13:00 14:00 1:00 Lunch
14:00 14:30 0:30 Istanbul experience
14:30 15:30 1:00 Session 10
15:30 16:30 1:00 Session 11
16:30 17:00 0:30 Coffee Break
17:00 18:00 1:00 Session 12
18:00 19:30 1:30 Cocktails and connect
19:30 20:00 0:30 Transport for Dinner
20:00 22:00 2:00 Dinner

Topics to be covered:

 

Marketing 2030
Agency 2030
Enterprise Growth Architecture 2.0
Human Quotient
Global scale with deep local understanding
Stagility
AI Efficiency and Human Meaning
Inspiration from some of the world’s biggest brands and most influential CMOs.

Speakers & Contributors (TBC)

Aljan de Boer

IRG

Find out more

Ash Tailor

London Business School

Find out more

Cindy Tervoort

IRG

Find out more

David Edelman

Edelman Advisory Services

Find out more

Daniela Lobo

IRG

Find out more

Dean Aragon

Shell Brands

Find out more

Frank van den Driest

Human Quotient

Find out more

Gian Martinez

Winnin

Find out more

Javier Olivan

Meta

Find out more

Jill Cress

H&R Block

Find out more

Marc de Swaan Arons

IRG

Find out more

Mariana Peneva

IRG

Find out more

Sophie Devonshire

The Marketing Society

Find out more

Tariq Hassan

Mc Donalds / PetCo

Find out more

Zeynep Yalım Uzun

Board Member and Advisor, President of Futurists Association

Find out more

IRG Partners

IRG Global CMO Summit Istanbul

The rapid growth of AI, rising geopolitical fragmentation, increasing public distrust, and a structural shift to short-term focus results are fundamentally challenging how businesses can grow. Winning businesses are balancing new growth paradoxes and applying an Enterprise Growth Architecture 2.0. 

Marketing2030 explores the role that Marketing will need to play to help the enterprise succeed, and the CMO strategies, structures, capabilities, and leadership required.

Led by the Institute for Real Growth (IRG) in partnership with over 25 industry partners, the Marketing2030 learning is built on interviews with over 500 board members, CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, and other C-suite leaders, and thousands of expert reports, investor calls, and leadership podcasts.

Winning 2030 CMOs are Humanized Growth Architects, increasing personal, business, and societal impact by creating value for all stakeholders.

Istanbul: Bridge to the Future

The IRG Global CMO Summit will bring together 25 Turkish and 25 global CMOs to discuss the Marketing2030 findings and how to drive sustained business growth in an increasingly divided world.  

Few places embody that challenge better than Istanbul.

A city of constant change, some would even say chaos, and fiercely contrasting perspectives, yet also hyper entrepreneurialism and endless growth opportunities, Istanbul represents the bridge to tomorrow’s success.

Marketing2030

Marketing2030 is focused on identifying the Marketing strategy, structure, capability, and CMO leadership characteristics required to drive sustained business growth.

M2030 Phase One defined the trends, business and cultural shifts, and stakeholder expectations that businesses and brands need to understand and navigate. The M2030 Phase One Report can be downloaded below.

M2030 Phase Two captured how businesses are responding to these global trends and stakeholder expectations, as well as WHAT Boards and business leaders expect from Marketing.

M2030 Phase Three focused on HOW Marketing leaders can best align with peers on their role as enterprise growth drivers. This phase included a quantitative validation of identified best practices.

The final M2030 report will provide CMOs with frameworks, case studies, and practical examples to help implement winning strategy, structure, and capability recommendations. As well as the leadership characteristics required to succeed in the future.

IRG Global CMO Summit Topics

On October 6-8, 2026, the IRG CMO Summit will include the global launch of the M2030 strategies, structures, capabilities, and CMO leadership traits required to win in 2030. CMO Summit session topics will include:
-Balancing the 2030 Growth Paradoxes
-Marketing’s role in the Enterprise Growth Architecture 2.0
-Providing the enterprise with a Window on the World
-Managing the Human Quotient in the era of AI
-Building, nurturing, and measuring the value of intangibles
-Building the Marketing ecosystem of the future
-The Da Vinci Growth CMO leadership profile
-Turkish Technology Unicorns Leading the Way
-Bridging Eastern and Western Growth Paradigms
-Anatolian Wisdom for Global Storytelling and Brand Experiences

Istanbul CMO Summit Contributors (TBC)

Aljan de Boer

IRG

Find out more

Andisa Ntsubane

Africa CMO Vodacom

Find out more

Arzu Unal

CEO WPP Turkey

Find out more

Ceren Coskun Saglam

Curious Brand Consultancy

Find out more

Chris Burggraeve

Former Global CMO AB InBev

Find out more

Chris Lakens

CMO Practice leader, Spencer Stuart

Find out more

Cindy Tervoort

IRG

Find out more

David Edelman

Edelman Advisory Services

Find out more

Daniela Lobo

IRG

Find out more

Dean Aragon

Shell Brands

Find out more

Eleni Nicholas

Chief Client Officer
Ipsos

Find out more

Eline Van der Velden

Founder and Creator of AI Actor Tilly Norwood

Find out more

Gian Martinez

Winnin

Find out more

Hakan Bulgurlu

Senior Advisor
Bain Capital Private Equity

Find out more

Işıl Bayraktar Buldur

Mavi CMO

Find out more

Lale Saral Develioğlu

Board Advisor

Find out more

Marc de Swaan Arons

IRG

Find out more

Marc Schroeder

CEO Weston Lamb International

Find out more

Mariana Peneva

IRG

Find out more

Nick Primola

Lead Global CMO Growth Council
ANA

Find out more

Oliver Joyce

Thought Leadership Lead, WPP Media

Find out more

Orçun Doğan

Şölen CMO

Find out more

Serkan Girgin

CMO, Google Turkey

Find out more

Sherilyn Shackell

The Marketing Academy

Find out more

Sophie Devonshire

The Marketing Society

Find out more

Tariq Hassan

Mc Donalds / PetCo

Find out more

Vikrant Gaikwad

Tata Consultancy Services

Find out more

Zeynep Yalım Uzun

Board Member and Advisor
President of Futurists Association

Find out more

Istanbul 2026 CMO Summit Attendance Requirements

Participation in this invitation-only IRG Global CMO Summit will be limited to IRG alums and partners, top-tier Turkish and global CMOs, and other senior business growth leaders. Approved registrants will be responsible for their own travel and local accommodation costs, and required to pay a US $110 registration fee, but all summit sessions, meals, and drinks are free of charge.

Istanbul CMO Summit Programming

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (18:00)
Welcome drinks and dinner

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 (09:00 – 21:00)
Morning M2030 Content Sessions Global CMO connections Lunch
Afternoon M2030 Content Sessions
2-hour Personal Break
Istanbul Experience and Global CMO connections dinner

Thursday, October 8, 2026 (09:00 – 15:00)
Morning Da Vinci Leadership Sessions Global CMO connections Lunch
Entrepreneurial Turkey Sessions
Future planning and Community session
NextGen Marketing2030 MasterClass (Optional)

IRG Partners