11 marketing leaders who put social media first

According to Sprout’s 2025 Impact of Social Report, most marketing leaders understand the influence of social media on various stages of the customer journey, including awareness (67%), customer acquisition (60%) and customer loyalty (58%).

The problem? They’re not as confident in their teams’ ability to tie social to these outcomes, often due to disjointed tech stacks and unclear ROI.

In other words, many execs are feeling uncertain about their teams’ social intelligence—the art of harnessing the unfiltered, real-time pulse of your market from social media and incorporating those insights throughout your business in tangible ways.

Fortunately, there are plenty of digital marketing leaders who are regularly put social first, harness social intelligence and share their expertise. We’ve curated a list of these marketing leaders so you can follow them for inspiration and guidance.

Dara Treseder, CMO, Autodesk

Dara Treseder is the CMO of Autodesk, a global leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software.

Autodesk’s mission is to empower everyone, everywhere to design and make anything that could create a better world for all. And that mission seeps into everything the brand does, both in real-world and social spaces.

But Autodesk doesn’t just talk the talk—it walks the walk, actively proving that you can make anything with its technology. Take its involvement with the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its “Let There Be Anything” campaign stars three Team USA athletes who live and breathe Autodesk’s values.

In addition to championing these campaigns, Treseder uses her LinkedIn profile to share candid takes, tangible takeaways and real-world advice on industry-relevant topics and trending technologies like AI. Best of all, she does it in a voice that’s unmistakably hers: confident and forward-thinking yet wholly conversational.

In a social landscape riddled with vague or surface-level commentary, her clarity and candor make her the kind of marketing leader you want in your feed.

Stacy Taffet, Chief Growth Officer, The Hershey Company

With over 25 years of experience, Stacy Taffet is one of the most accomplished leaders in marketing. As Hershey’s Chief Growth Officer, she’s playing an integral role in adapting the brand’s practices and products to keep up with consumers’ ever-changing tastes.

Specifically, the brand is getting a marketing makeover in 2026, which will see it dabble in modern-day tactics, such as TikTok influencer campaigns, live events and activity around big cultural moments.

One trend they’ve already tapped is Dubai chocolate—a viral chocolate bar filled with pistachio paste and kataifi pastry. Hershey saw the growing interest online and seized the opportunity to join in, releasing its own limited-edition version of Dubai chocolate.

Taffet’s LinkedIn presence reinforces that cultural fluency. She regularly posts about Hershey’s latest campaigns, underscoring how they tap into consumers’ interests and preferences.

A case study in meeting consumers where they are, Taffet’s content mirrors the modern direction Hershey is taking. And by following her, you’ll get a front-row look at how a legacy brand is keeping pace with its audience.

Brittany Hennessy, VP of Social Intelligence Evangelism, Sprout Social

If there’s anyone who understands the power of social intelligence, it’s Brittany Hennessy. A former influencer with over 15 years of experience in the social media space, she now serves as the VP of Social Intelligence Evangelism at Sprout Social.

She understands that social media—and other relevant technologies like AI—is shaped by human behavior, emotion and culture. On LinkedIn, she regularly demonstrates how leaders can use social to craft accessible, human-centered narratives around these emerging technologies.

She did the same thing during her Creator Economy Live session, The Perfect Match: Creator Partnerships Your CMO and CFO Will Ship. In it, Hennessy leaned into the “matchmaking” metaphor, framing creator discovery as a dating journey. She reminded brands that finding the right partner isn’t about chasing who looks good on paper—it’s about genuine compatibility and shared values.

Equal parts witty and strategic, Hennessy is an expert at translating complex social concepts into relatable stories that help marketers understand what’s coming next.

Stay up to date on Hennessy’s latest endeavors by following her on LinkedIn and subscribing to her Substack, Suite Intelligence.

William White, CMO, Walmart

Since 2020, William White has served as the CMO of Walmart. His work for the commercial giant has earned him recognition as a top marketing leader, including a spot in the 2025 Forbes CMO Hall of Fame.

In his time as CMO, White has been working tirelessly to drive demand and customer loyalty, and position Walmart as a digital-first retailer.

In the past year alone, his oversight has made 85% of the company’s media shoppable.

White has also been instrumental in developing the Walmart Creator platform, particularly as the business leans more into creator marketing.

On his LinkedIn feed, White often breaks down Walmart’s most innovative partnerships, such as its collaboration with OpenAI to build AI‑first shopping experiences and its launch of drone deliveries in Atlanta. But he also brings a uniquely human touch to his content, tying the brand’s initiatives to his own passions, background and experiences.

His mix of vision, strategic insight and genuine personality make him a top marketing leader to follow.

Leslie Berland, CMO, Verizon

Leslie Berland is the CMO of Verizon, an iconic telecommunications company earning a reputation for best-in-class organic engagement on social.

The recipe for Verizon’s success is rooted in bold creatives and taking big swings, while still folding in relatability and flexibility. They find moments to participate in (and create) culture on social, and pave new paths forward for their brand.

Under Berland’s stewardship, the brand has also forayed into social and influencer marketing, with campaigns featuring the likes of David Beckham, Kevin Hart, Lindsay Lohan and Pete Davidson.

As the Official Telecommunication Services Sponsor for FIFA World Cup 26™, their recent collaboration with Beckham is the perfect example of how the brand taps into cultural moments while leveraging the influence of A-list figures. The ad leans on Beckham’s authority in the sport while simultaneously highlighting Verizon’s value proposition in an engaging way that capitalizes on the excitement for the World Cup.

These forward-thinking social campaigns have cemented Berland’s position as one of the top digital marketing leaders to watch by renowned organizations like AdAge and Matrix.

Stay connected with Berland by following her on LinkedIn and reading her thought leadership features.

Nathan Jun Poekert, Interim Head of Brand, Blueland

Nathan Jun Poekert has built a name for himself on social. With more than 40,000 followers on LinkedIn, and over 900K across Instagram and TikTok, Jun Poekert is well-known as an expert in organic, influencer and paid social strategy.

After serving as Head of Social, Content & Digital Innovation at American Eagle, he transitioned to consulting brands on their social strategies, and building a reputation as a thought leader and creator. He then pivoted his social experience into the role of CMO at General Idea, a brand agency behind major fashion moments.

Now, Jun Poekert is serving as Interim Head of Brand for Blueland, which specializes in eco-conscious cleaning and personal care products.

Even while juggling his new position, Jun Poekert remains an active online personality and creator. His posts examine the philosophical and ethical questions of working in social while walking followers through the true best practices of running a successful brand presence.

To stay connected with Jun Poekert, follow him on social and rewatch some of our favorite webinars he took part in, including Navigating Social in an Election Year and Under the Brand-fluence.

Todd Kaplan, CMO, Kraft Heinz North America

Todd Kaplan is the CMO of Kraft Heinz North America and has helped the brand usher in a new era of transformation in the digital landscape. As he told Adweek, his style of leadership helps his team “find the sweet spot between creativity and business objectives.”

Kaplan has been recognized by Forbes and Business Insider as a top CMO, and was even called a “Marketing Rockstar” by Rolling Stone. Kaplan spent most of his career helping PepsiCo grow and maintain cultural relevance.

His move to Kraft Heinz in 2024 was a fresh start for the legacy brand. Since then, it’s significantly increased both its share of voice and its online cultural competency.

Take its launch of the Leftover Gravy sauce as an example. Created in honor of the real hero of Thanksgiving—the leftovers sandwich—the product also capitalized on a social trend.

As Kaplan points out in his post, every year on the day after Thanksgiving, Millennials take to TikTok to show off their leftover creations, while nostalgically paying homage to the ‘Moist Maker’.

Keep up with Kaplan—a leader well-known for his laidback style and dedication to his favorite sports teams—on LinkedIn for highlights from his latest media appearances.

Kikora Mason, VP of Community & Social Media, JPMorgan Chase

Kikora Mason is the VP of Community and Social Media at JPMorgan Chase. The multinational financial services firm is 225 years old, yet still invests in new ways to connect and grow its community, which is key to its success over the centuries.

In her role, Mason leads a team focused on social listening and community management. She reviews trend analyses on a daily basis—and finds tangible ways to incorporate these insights into business operations.

As she told us when we interviewed her for an article about social media executive career growth, “It’s always important to know your target audience and base your strategy on what will resonate with them and fulfill your objectives.”

But JPMorgan Chase doesn’t chase trends for the sake of it, or run on the trend cycle hamster wheel. Instead, they take a measured approach and wait for opportunities that align with their brand. Like when it tapped into BookTok in its own way, spotlighting book recommendations for professionals at every stage.

Follow Mason on LinkedIn, where she shares takeaways from leadership panels she participates in and offers advice to young marketers.

Taylor Montgomery, Global Chief Brand Officer, Taco Bell

While he now serves as Global Chief Brand Officer, Taylor Montgomery was previously Taco Bell’s CMO, overseeing the brand’s marketing presence during their biggest social media moments—from recruiting Doja Cat to bringing back Mexican Pizza. Montgomery champions approaching social like a user instead of a brand, a strategy that seems to be paying off.

Under Montgomery’s leadership, the brand has consistently grown. It has even expanded its offerings with a line of Live Más Cafés, beverage spaces changing the way fans experience Taco Bell. The move was in direct response to the preferences of younger consumers, who enjoy indulging in beverages.

“Over the past five years, we’ve really, really been transitioning and thinking about the brand and how to position it for Gen Z, and so Café was really born from that,” Montgomery said. “I think it’s something like 60% of Gen Z consumers come to a restaurant or [quick-service restaurant] for an afternoon treat.”

Taco Bell’s digital marketing strategy around this initiative has been savvy, with its posts taking on an appropriately youthful tone.

Follow Montgomery for the latest and greatest from Taco Bell’s marketing efforts and overviews of his thought leadership interviews.

Scott Morris, CMO, Sprout Social

Sprout’s CMO Scott Morris is a top marketing leader to watch (but we might be biased). With Morris’ leadership, Sprout has developed a robust influencer marketing program, launched a new digital launch event motion, crafted a “customer zero” content series and attributed more revenue than ever to social efforts.

Morris often pushes our social team to think beyond tried-and-true B2B marketing formulas, a testament to his brand-building expertise.

On LinkedIn, he shares wins from our campaigns—such as our Shorty Award-winning Influencer & Creator program—the latest product launches and his takeaways about the value of social and social insights. Follow him there to stay current, and read his growing library of articles on our blog.

Josh Rangel, Senior Director of Social, Ogilvy

As a Senior Director of Social Media at Ogilvy, Josh Rangel brings almost 20 years of social media experience to his client work. Under his leadership, his team builds award-winning campaigns for some of the world’s most well-known brands.

Rangel is also a member of our Index Council, a cohort of social marketers and thought leaders who helped us shape our data into the 2025 Index report. When we interviewed him, Rangel illuminated how he advocates for more resources for social: “Budget shouldn’t be a dirty word. Speak plain language that ties social media performance back to business results. Keep it simple and focus on: 1) bringing the receipts, 2) positioning social as a laboratory for testing and learning, and 3) sharing the cost of not being part of the conversation.”

On LinkedIn, Rangel shares about the experience of speaking up for more resources and his observations about the latest trends, plus relatable memes and POVs that capture the sentiment of the industry only social marketers can understand.

Fill your feed with marketing leaders’ insights

These marketing leaders are redefining the role of social—and more specifically, social insights—in modern business strategies. From legacy brands embracing innovation to trailblazers pushing creative boundaries, they offer inspiration and actionable lessons you can use to refine your strategies.

By following their work and learning from their successes, you can fuel your social-first marketing strategy and keep your wider business plans ahead of the curve.

For more guidance on bolstering your social ROI beyond viral campaigns, read the 2025 Impact of Social Report.

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