How CMOs Master the Art of Brand Portfolio Pruning

The CMO Podcast with Fexingo: Marketing Leadership, Budgets, and Executive Strategy · Sep 13, 2026 · 11m · transcript

Most CMOs inherit bloated brand portfolios that bleed budget and confuse customers. In this episode, we explore how leading marketing leaders are systematically pruning underperforming sub-brands to sharpen focus and improve ROI. We look at the strategic decision-making behind killing beloved products, the internal political hurdles of eliminating a line, and the specific financial metrics—like contribution margin and customer acquisition cost—that justify the axe. With September 2026 marking a period of heightened efficiency demands across consumer goods, understanding when to double down…