Francesco Federico
Francesco Federico — Global CMO, Author, AI Strategist

About

Francesco Federico

Global CMO, S&P Global  ·  FCIM  ·  WEF Strategic Communicators Exchange  ·  London, UK

As a global CMO operating at the intersection of marketing, AI, and business transformation, I lead organisations through the transition from automation to autonomy. Across S&P Global, JLL, Acer, and Vodafone I have scaled digital marketing and MarTech ecosystems that combine human creativity with intelligent automation — turning marketing into a measurable growth engine.

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM)WEF Strategic Communicators ExchangeCMO Council MemberCMO to Watch 2025 — Digital Experience AwardsVodafone Online Innovation Award

The work.

I've spent over two decades building and leading marketing functions at some of the world's most demanding organisations. My work has always lived at the intersection of strategy, technology, and human behaviour — long before that became fashionable.

At S&P Global, I lead marketing for one of the world's most trusted brands in financial intelligence. Before that, seven years at JLL architecting global MarTech across 80+ countries. Before that, Acer, Vodafone — and two companies I founded, one of which was acquired by Telecom Italia.

I started as a lawyer. I ended up in tech. I've always been drawn to the hard problems at the edge of what's known.

Values & philosophy.

Clarity over complexity

Good strategy is legible. If you can't explain it plainly, you don't understand it yet.

Evidence before opinion

Data informs instinct. Instinct without data is just noise. Both without judgement is dangerous.

Long-term over short-term

The best marketing decisions compound. Brand equity, trust, and capability are built over years, not quarters.

Human creativity, machine scale

AI amplifies what humans do well. It doesn't replace judgement, empathy, or the ability to see what matters.

Career timeline.

S&P Global

Chief Marketing Officer January 2025 — Present
Managing Director, Global Head of Marketing, Ratings November 2023 — January 2025

Leading global marketing for one of the world's most trusted financial intelligence organisations. Building the marketing function of the future — AI-augmented, data-driven, and brand-led at every level.

World Economic Forum

Strategic Communicators Exchange Member July 2025 — Present

Member of the WEF's Strategic Communicators Exchange — working with global communications leaders on the most consequential challenges facing organisations and societies today.

Independent Executive Consultant

Executive Consultant April — November 2023

PE/VC commercial due diligence across $2B+ transactions. Advisory on MarTech ecosystems and GenAI strategy for private equity portfolio companies and their leadership teams.

JLL

Executive Director, Global Marketing Technology May 2022 — April 2023
CMO, UK & Ireland April 2021 — May 2022
Global Digital Director January 2019 — March 2021
EMEA Digital Marketing Director May 2016 — December 2018

Seven years at JLL — the world's leading real estate services firm. Progressed from EMEA digital lead to Global Marketing Technology Director, architecting the MarTech ecosystem used by marketing teams across 80+ countries.

Acer

Global Digital Marketing Director July 2013 — June 2016

Led global digital marketing from Lugano and Taipei for one of the world's largest PC manufacturers. Built the infrastructure for real-time predictive marketing at scale across global consumer and commercial markets.

Vodafone

Head of Digital CRM January 2012 — July 2013
eCare Programme Group Lead April 2011 — January 2012
Senior Product Manager October 2009 — April 2011

Nearly four years at Vodafone driving digital customer experience, CRM, and self-service innovation. Led the eCare programme that became an AWS case study in digital transformation at scale.

TripShake & Shreppy

Co-Founder, TripShake Limited February 2007 — October 2009
Founder & CEO, Shreppy April 2006 — October 2009

Entrepreneurial roots: founded Shreppy, a social commerce platform acquired by Telecom Italia. Co-founded TripShake. Early experience with product, technology, and growth that informs how Francesco thinks about innovation inside large organisations today.

Education.

INSEAD

International Directors Programme

2026–2027

Harvard University

CS50 Computer Science for Business Professionals

2022–2023

IMD

Digital Transformation

2021–2022

IE Business School

Innovation for Growth

2014–2015

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Doctor of Law (JD)

2003–2009

Languages.

English Native
Italian Native
French Professional
Spanish Professional
Latin Academic

Publications & work.

The Agentic CMO

Book · 2026

Chronicles of Change

Newsletter · Ongoing

A journey of digital marketing transformation: From distributed solo players to embedded digital excellence

Publication

Using predictive analytics to morph marketing in real time: A consumer electronics case study

Publication

AWS Case Study: Vodafone Italy

AWS · Case Study

Work with Francesco.

Speaking, advisory, board roles, and media enquiries. The best way to connect is LinkedIn.

Connect on LinkedIn