U.S.A. – Global media brand Forbes has appointed Linda Boff as president of its CMO Network, where she will lead the influential CMO community and oversee Forbes’ multi-platform marketing initiatives, including live events, content, and community engagement.
Boff, currently chief executive officer of Said Differently and former CMO of GE, will take charge of the network’s strategy, curating programming, creating content, and working directly with CMOs to ensure the community stays at the forefront of marketing practice.
In her new role, she will also lead Forbes’ annual CMO Summits in Aspen and London, as well as signature events at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, where the company highlights marketers recognised for driving transformation and lasting business impact through its World’s Most Influential CMOs list.
Forbes plans to launch a new podcast hosted by Boff, titled “A Different Take”. The series will explore the real stories behind marketing’s successes and failures, examining what makes some campaigns succeed while others falter, and drawing actionable lessons from each.
Sherry Phillips, CEO of Forbes, said, “Linda brings a rare combination of credibility, empathy and operational rigour. In this leadership role, she will take our CMO Network to new heights – expanding the platform in meaningful ways that match what today’s modern marketers truly need.”
“Boff’s unique perspective—having led both iconic brands as a CMO and now at the helm of an award-winning agency—brings enormous value to Forbes and our CMO Network,” added Phillips. “She understands the pressures, priorities and possibilities CMOs face today better than almost anyone.”
Boff has a long-standing connection with the Forbes CMO Network, having been an active and respected member throughout its evolution. She is also an honouree of Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs Hall of Fame.
During her two decades at GE, Boff helped redefine how the global industrial company engaged with culture. As CMO, she led award-winning campaigns that humanised the brand, including projecting images of pioneering women in science across the ceiling of Grand Central Terminal and turning GE machinery into music in collaboration with electronic artist Matthew Dear. She also played a key role in GE’s successful transition into three independent public companies.
Boff will continue her role at Said Differently, allowing her to maintain close insight into the challenges CMOs face today—from growth pressures to evolving agency models.
Commenting on her new role, Boff said, “The Forbes CMO Network has long represented the highest calibre of marketing leadership. What excites me about this role is the opportunity to help define what success looks like today—through a business lens—especially at a moment when CMOs are being asked to drive growth, trust and transformation simultaneously. This is about moving beyond titles and trophies to impact and building a community that helps CMOs drive real growth inside their organisations.”
