• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, April 16, 2025

The hot new C-suite role on Madison Avenue is -- no surprise -- the Chief AI Officer. Just weeks after Assembly named one, Interpublic's Momentum Worldwide agency bestowed the title on long-time Chief Technology Officer Jason Alan Snyder, noting in a press release this morning that “Jason’s appointment reflects where our industry is headed.

“This is not about hype," Snyder added in a statement, "it’s about helping our clients navigate and lead through complexity. As Chief AI Officer, my focus is embedding intelligence into every layer of what we do -- from operations to concept to execution -- making AI a trusted partner in delivering the smartest brand experiences.”

As someone who has followed the evolution of agency corporate titles, I'd say the trend toward CAIOs does say something about where the industry thinks it is heading.

So I asked an AI -- ChatGPT -- for its assessment of other recent chief officer roles.

It labeled its assessment "Flash-in-the-Pan or Trend-Coaster C-Titles." Here's how it ranked their current relevance:

1. Chief Digital Officer (CDO)

Peak hype: ~2010s
Why it happened: Companies were scrambling to "go digital."
What happened: Many responsibilities merged into CMO, CIO, or CTO roles. In some cases, CDOs were a sign that the company was behind the curve.
Status now: Rare at leading-edge orgs; still found in slower-moving sectors.

2. Chief Innovation Officer (CINO)

Peak hype: ~2015
Why it happened: Aimed to signal disruption, transformation, and "startup culture."
What happened: Hard to quantify impact. Some became innovation theater roles with minimal budget or authority.
Status now: Still exists, often rebranded or re-scoped under product or R&D.

3. Chief Experience Officer (CXO)

Peak hype: ~2018
Why it happened: Surge in customer journey mapping and UX obsession.
What happened: Often clashed or overlapped with CMOs, Chief Customer Officers, or product heads.
Status now: Survives in service-heavy industries, but rarely standalone.

4. Chief Growth Officer (CGO)

Peak hype: Late 2010s – still somewhat relevant
Why it happened: Companies were replacing CMOs with CGOs to emphasize measurable growth over brand.
What happened: In some cases, this role folded back into marketing; in others, it became a hybrid of sales, data, and marketing.
Status now: Still around, but not as "hot" or mysterious as it was.

5. Chief Diversity Officer

Peak hype: 2020–2021 (post-George Floyd reckoning)
Why it happened: Industry-wide pressure for social accountability.
What happened: Many companies installed them without power, budget, or alignment.
Status now: Under scrutiny. Some companies quietly cut these roles; others are doubling down.

6. Chief Content Officer

Peak hype: 2015–2018 (content marketing boom)
Why it happened: Brands were becoming "publishers."
What happened: Content got absorbed into marketing, comms, or brand.
Status now: Survives in media companies, not so much in legacy brands.

7. Chief Metaverse Officer

Peak hype: 2022
Why it happened: Metaverse FOMO after Facebook became Meta.
What happened: Crypto winter, headset fatigue, and economic headwinds killed the buzz.
Status now: Meme-worthy. Rare exceptions in gaming or VR startups.

8. Chief Remote Officer

Peak hype: 2020–2021 (pandemic-era WFH transitions)
Why it happened: Companies needed leadership for distributed workforces.
What happened: Eventually folded into HR, ops, or IT functions.
Status now: Mostly disappeared.