UN Global Compact Unveils CMO Blueprint for Sustainable Growth at Cannes Lions

At the world’s preeminent gathering of creative and marketing leaders, the United Nations Global Compact today unveiled the CMO Blueprint for Sustainable Growth — a unifying framework to mobilize Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and brand leaders with actionable guidance to harness sustainability as a driver of business growth and lasting impact.

As brand stewards, value creators, and powerful communicators, CMOs and marketing leaders have the influence to shape perception, shift behavior, and help align business and brand growth with long-term societal and environmental value. Developed by the UN Global Compact CMO Think Lab — a working group of global marketing leaders — the Blueprint advances three core ambitions:

• Establish a unified, principles-based framework for sustainable marketing
• Provide an industry benchmark to assess progress, identify gaps and accelerate action
• Build a collaborative ecosystem of brands, experts and partners committed to reshaping the future of marketing and sustainability

“The need for action has never been greater — and neither has the opportunity,” said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “The CMO Blueprint for Sustainable Growth is both a call to action and a practical roadmap. It reflects the collective insight and ambition of marketing leaders around the world who are ready to lead businesses toward a more just, inclusive and resilient future.”

The Blueprint is structured around five strategic pillars — growth strategy, brand strategy, innovation, communications, advertising and media, and collaboration and partnerships.

Together, these pillars support a collaborative ecosystem anchored by the CMO Blueprint online hub. This hub connects brands, experts, and stakeholders to share knowledge, case studies, and resources — helping marketing teams embed sustainability into strategy, drive long-term value creation and accelerate transformation at scale.

“CMOs and marketing leaders have a vital role to play in driving sustainable growth and advancing corporate sustainability strategies,” said Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS.

“Every June, Cannes Lions brings together the world’s most influential creative minds and we invite our community to be part of something bigger to collaboratively build a sustainable future. This blueprint provides a key opportunity for our industry to harness its boundless creativity and pioneer solutions that will echo far beyond Cannes Lions.”

Cannes Lions participants can explore the CMO Blueprint throughout the Festival (16–20 June) at the EverGrow greenhouse activation happening at the LIONS Sustainability Hub. This is the Festival’s new home, in partnership with ACT Responsible, for inspirational work, ideas for practical action and a place to meet like-minded individuals.

In addition, the CMO Blueprint will be launched on 19 June at 15:30 CET on the Lions Terrace Stage, featuring a high-level conversation with Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Mastercard; Cristina Diezhandino, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo and Khensani Nobanda, Chief Marketing Officer, Nedbank.