Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: AI Is Becoming the Daily Job ft. Mark Kirkham of PepsiCo

Marketing Vanguard continues live from Cannes. Host Jenny Rooney sits down with Mark Kirkham, Chief Marketing Officer at PepsiCo Beverages US, to break down why Cannes only works when CMOs show up with clear intention. Mark explains how AI has moved from tech hype to operational reality, why disruption cycles collapsed from five years to five months, and why honest peer debate is the only way marketing leaders stay ahead.

Mark Kirkham is Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Beverages US, where he leads brand, category, and marketing programs across Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Starry, Bubly, and Mug. A 15-year PepsiCo veteran, Mark has held global and regional marketing leadership roles including Chief Marketing Officer, International Beverages, VP of Global Sports, Juice and Energy, and Head of Marketing & Innovation for Western Europe. His work has included Pepsi’s UEFA Champions League partnership, the global Pepsi Taste Challenge, expansion of Gatorade and Mountain Dew across international markets, and award-winning brand and innovation programs. Before PepsiCo, Mark held roles at P&G, Nielsen, and Forrester Research.

What You'll Learn:

Why AI is shifting from hype cycle to everyday marketing workHow CMOs should evaluate AI through growth, efficiency, insight, and discoverabilityWhy disruption now happens in months, not yearsHow peer learning and open debate help the entire industry move forwardWhy Cannes works best when CMOs prioritize quality over quantityHow teams can learn from challenger brands and organic social-first thinkingWhy the industry has a role to play in making Cannes more curated and creatively valuable

This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman

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