Iquo Ukoh and Lolu Akinwunmi named Co-Chairs of 2026 CMO Circle

The CMO Circle, Nigeria’s invitation-only forum for Chief Marketing Officers and senior marketing executives, has announced Iquo Ukoh and Lolu Akinwunmi as Co-Chairs for its 2026 edition.

The platform, convened by MarkHack in partnership with StatiSense and Brand Communicator, brings together leading voices in marketing to influence strategy, business leadership and public policy conversations in Nigeria.

Positioned as a high-level executive forum, the CMO Circle also drives industry engagement through its quarterly CMO Index publication, which provides executive sentiment, market intelligence and forward-looking insights aimed at supporting economic and policy decision-making.

As Co-Chairs, Ukoh and Akinwunmi will oversee discussions centred on innovation, talent development, enterprise growth and the evolving role of chief marketing officers within the C-suite.

Ukoh, Chief Executive Officer of Entod Marketing and former Director of Marketing Services at Nestlé Nigeria, is recognised for her work in brand strategy, consumer engagement and cultural storytelling. Akinwunmi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Prima Garnet (Ogilvy Nigeria), brings decades of experience advising local and multinational brands, alongside a longstanding record of industry leadership.

Commenting on the appointments, Dr Victor ’Gbenga Afolabi, Convener of MarkHack and the CMO Circle, said:

“The CMO Circle is intentionally designed as a premium, outcomes-driven platform, one that moves marketing leadership beyond the boardroom into the sphere of policy influence. With Iquo Ukoh and Lolu Akinwunmi as Co-Chairs, we are setting a clear tone of authority, depth, and relevance. Through the CMO Index and our quarterly convenings, the Circle will play a defining role in shaping both industry direction and policy dialogue.”

The inaugural 2026 session, themed “The C-Suite Mandate: Talent Density and Marketing Leadership,” will bring together a curated network of CMOs and business leaders, reinforcing the Circle’s ambition to remain a leading forum for strategic influence, executive collaboration and policy-focused insight within Nigeria’s marketing industry.