LEGO’s Julia Goldin Crowned Inaugural European CMO Of The Year At Cannes Lions

Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the LEGO Group, has been named the inaugural European CMO of the Year at a beachside ceremony held alongside the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

About The Award

The new accolade recognises the continent’s most influential marketing leaders. Goldin was selected from a shortlist of 29 CMOs after a nomination phase that involved more than 800 marketing leaders from 15 European countries and regions. The final winner was chosen by peers participating in the CMO Barometer survey.

The European CMO of the Year award beachside ceremony on 22 June 2026.- Credit: Euronews Culture

Selection Criteria

To qualify, candidates had to have held a CMO role for at least two years and carried strategic responsibility for marketing across a minimum of four European countries.

Why Goldin Won

The award recognises Goldin’s role in steering LEGO beyond its toy heritage into a broader entertainment ecosystem. Under her leadership, LEGO has expanded into gaming, entertainment and sport through partnerships with Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel and Fortnite, while launching global campaigns tied to Formula One and football.

Nina Schick, speaking about the impact of generative AI on creativity, innovation and brand leadership.- Credit: European CMO of the Year

Professor Sven Reinecke, Director of the Institute of Marketing and Customer Insight at the University of St. Gallen and academic partner for the award, said: "Julia Goldin sets the benchmark for modern marketing leadership in Europe: strategic, creative and culturally relevant. She has transformed the LEGO brand far beyond its product category into a cultural icon, demonstrating how brands today can drive both growth and relevance."

Accepting the honour, Goldin said: "It's very humbling. It’s, of course, very exciting. I feel an extreme sense of pride for the achievements of my team and our organisation." She also reflected on LEGO’s journey from humble beginnings in rural Denmark in 1932 to a global brand that aims to bring joy and creativity to people of all ages.

Event Highlights

The ceremony brought together more than 100 senior marketing executives, media representatives and academics. The evening also featured a keynote address by Nina Schick on the impact of generative AI on creativity, innovation and brand leadership.

Shortlist And Attending CMOs

The shortlist and many attending CMOs represented a wide cross-section of European and global brands, including:

• Ilaria Lodigiani – Barilla
• Boris Dolkhani – Bosch
• Javier Meza – Coca‑Cola
• Anouk Van Hauteghem – Coca‑Cola (Fanta, Mezzo Mix, Dr Pepper)
• Cristina Diezhandino – Diageo
• Beltran Dobao – Fatboy
• Enrico Galliera – Ferrari
• Marco Neroni – Golden Goose
• Noel Mack – Gymshark
• Karsten Kühn – HORNBACH
• David Sandström – Klarna
• Asmita Dubey – L'Oréal
• Julia Goldin – LEGO
• Andrea Spielmann – Lorenz Snack‑World
• Mathilde Delhoume‑Debreu – LVMH
• Susanne Schwenger – Marc O'Polo
• Jennifer Treiber‑Ruckenbrod – MINI
• Melanie Brinbaum – Nestlé
• Olivier Degiorgis – Nestlé
• Géraldine Weilandt – NIVEA (Lactalis)
• Vincent Sieben – Philips
• Taide Guajardo – Procter & Gamble
• Antoine Le Nel – Revolut
• Dr. Susanne Dickhardt – roadsurfer
• Benjamin Braun – Samsung
• Kerstin Köder – SAP
• Leandro Barreto – Unilever
• Fabio Bin – WeRoad
• Nicole Lunzer – woom

The recognition highlights both Goldin’s impact on LEGO’s strategic growth and the broader strength of European marketing creativity.