CMO Moves – Week of January 19, 2026

By: Christian Banach

on January 19, 2026

Big chair shifts, big agency implications: NVIDIA centralizes marketing + comms, GlobalLogic tees up VelocityAI storytelling, and Hawaiian Bros goes franchise-ready. Plus: the full CMO roundup.

Alison Wagonfeld named Chief Marketing Officer at NVIDIA

NVIDIA named Alison Wagonfeld its first Chief Marketing Officer, bringing marketing and communications under a single top seat. The announcement says she will report to CEO Jensen Huang and that all members of NVIDIA’s marketing and communications team will report to her.

Wagonfeld comes from Google Cloud, where she was vice president of marketing and wrote that she helped build the business “from a promising start-up in 2016 to a thriving ($60 billion) run-rate business today.”

Agency lens: With marketing + comms centralized, expect more integrated platform storytelling and partner marketing—especially tied to Omniverse-based creative workflows and collaborations with holding companies/agencies.

Press release
Company website
Executive’s LinkedIn

Lujean Smith named Chief Marketing Officer at GlobalLogic

GlobalLogic appointed LuJean Smith as Chief Marketing Officer, positioning marketing as a “growth engine” to elevate the brand and showcase AI capabilities and collaboration within the Hitachi Group. The announcement says she will spearhead global marketing strategy, lead high-impact multi-channel campaigns, and showcase GlobalLogic VelocityAI (its AI-powered service offerings), aligned to Hitachi’s “Inspire 2027” strategic priorities.

Smith brings 30 years of marketing leadership, including senior marketing and communications roles at GE, Siemens, Accenture, and Cognizant.

Agency lens: This is set up for brand positioning work, integrated comms, and campaign development around VelocityAI and the GlobalLogic–Hitachi value story—built for enterprise buyers.

Press release
Company website
Executive’s LinkedIn

Shannon Scott named Chief Marketing Officer at Hawaiian Bros Island Grill

Hawaiian Bros named Shannon Scott Chief Marketing Officer as the chain prepares for rapid national expansion and franchise growth. The announcement says she will oversee national and local marketing, digital engagement, menu storytelling, and market entry strategies after serving in a fractional capacity for the past year.

Scott’s background includes chief strategy officer and deputy EVP at the American Academy of Family Physicians, plus more than a decade as a marketing executive at Applebee’s supporting franchise operators.

Agency lens: Expect franchise-ready marketing systems—local launch playbooks, digital engagement programs, and creative that scales menu storytelling consistently across new markets.

Press release
Company website
Executive’s LinkedIn

All Appointments

The following is a complete list of CMO appointments and transitions tracked this week across industries.

CMO Moves are tracked weekly based on public announcements, filings, and market intelligence. Not every leadership change results in agency engagement, but historically, these moments often precede strategic reviews and realignment of partners.

Christian Banach

Christian Banach is the founder of NextBigWin and a leader in agency growth and business development, bringing over 20 years of experience. He serves on the 4A’s Expert Network and has helped holdco agencies, such as Energy BBDO, and independents win millions in new business from brands like Disney, Toyota, and Kohl’s.