Positive changes weighed down by CMO
Pros
Most employees are talented and supportive. New CCO is a breath of fresh air—deliberate, strategic, and sane in a department that constantly chases its own tail. Benefits and compensation are on par for Silicon Valley and the company itself has a bright future now that we (finally!) have a CEO with vision. New leadership is beginning to invest in its culture and take a more active role in becoming a force for good in the world.
Cons
Unfortunately, our CMO lacks both strategy and vision, and is obviously out of his depth. To compensate, he focuses on the tactical—getting so down in the weeds and micromanagerial that those working on it are disempowered and ultimately give up trying to do what they think is best. Timelines are breakneck, burnout is high, and decisions are based on ego, not business acumen. Approval processes are a nightmare, with too many executive product stakeholders jockeying to put their own imprint (right or wrong) on every project that comes their way.