Top Marketing Job Titles

Here is the ranking of those job titles from highest to lowest seniority:

1. CMO (Chief Marketing Officer)
2. General Manager – Marketing
3. Marketing Director
4. Director of Marketing

Rationale:

• The CMO is the highest-ranking marketing position, reporting directly to the CEO and is responsible for the overall marketing strategy and function of an organisation. As the top marketing executive, the CMO oversees all marketing directors and managers.
• General Manager – Marketing is also a high-level role, often overseeing all marketing initiatives for a major product line, division or geographic region. The general manager has broader responsibilities beyond just marketing though, also being accountable for other functions like sales and operations related to their area.
• The Marketing Director is a management role that is focused purely on marketing activities. This person develops marketing plans and campaigns and manages a team of marketing managers and staff. The director reports to the CMO or GM of Marketing.
• The Director of Marketing is a step below a Marketing Director. This role manages marketing campaigns and projects but has a smaller team and less extensive responsibilities than a director. The director of marketing reports to a higher-level marketing director or VP.

In summary, the CMO is the highest marketing executive in an organization, followed by marketing GMs, directors and managers in decreasing levels of seniority and responsibility. The key factors are the breadth of marketing oversight and the level each role reports into the corporate structure.

Kevin Harrington Partner

Kevin Harrington is a Partner at Exit Factor UK, helping SME owners increase business value & build a rewarding, well-planned exit. Former CMO at BBC Worldwide.

See Full Bio

Marketing B2B Marketing Maximising Business Value Product Marketing