Where do experienced marketers go to get smarter?

Behind the CMO started with that question. It’s a free newsletter for the people running marketing: a Monday Brief and a Thursday deep dive.

Founder, Behind the CMOSince January 2025 James Murray Also runs Pivotal Consulting Group

Marketing content has a problem.

Most of it is written for beginners, or worse, by people who’ve never run a campaign, built a brand, or been accountable for a number.

Not tips and tricks. Not “10 ways to boost engagement.” Real strategic thinking from people who’ve sat in the seat and made the calls that matter. Frameworks you can actually use, and zero content that wastes your time.

Who writes it

James Murray is a Google, Amazon, and London Business School alum who left the Big Tech world to build Pivotal Consulting Group out of Kansas City. He spends his days turning messy ad accounts into profit machines for CMOs who are tired of getting poor results from their agencies. He started Behind the CMO because the most useful conversations in marketing happen when the consultants leave the room, and he wanted to write those down.

Everything James has written → LinkedIn

What we believe

Depth over breadth: One idea explored thoroughly beats ten ideas skimmed. We’d rather help you master one framework than expose you to twenty you’ll forget.
Strategy first, tactics second: The “what to do” is easy. The “why” and “when” is where leaders differentiate.
Written for practitioners: We assume you know the basics. Our content starts where most marketing content ends: at the point where real decisions get made.
Respect your time: Every word earns its place. If something can be said in fewer words, we say it in fewer words.
Constantly learning: We stay in the trenches (running experiments, talking to leaders, testing frameworks) so you don’t have to.

What lands in your inbox

The Monday Brief

Every Monday

A 5-minute tactical roundup of what’s working in marketing right now, what’s not, and what to try this week.

Monday Briefing: Apple's Safari Update Blocks The Trade Desk This week’s issue · Oct 5 Plus: Nike raises brand spend in a down quarter, CMO tenure falls to 2.6 years, and Cava hires the Dr. Squatch marketer.

The Deep Dive

Every Thursday

One big idea, fully explored, usually with a framework you can take into your next planning meeting.

Plan for the Budget You Won't Get The Flat-Budget Triage · Sep 24

Plus 29 free calculators for the numbers you get asked about. Browse the free tools →

Written for CMOs, VPs, and the directors about to be one.

Marketing leaders at companies that expect results. Strategic thinkers who want signal, not noise.

Questions

How often will I receive emails?

Twice a week. The Monday Brief (a quick tactical roundup) and a Thursday deep dive. That’s it. No daily spam.

Is it really free?

Yes. The newsletter is and will always be free. We may introduce premium content in the future, but the core newsletter stays free.

What makes this different from other marketing newsletters?

We write for experienced marketers. No “what is SEO” explainers. No beginner tips dressed up as insights. Strategic content for people who’ve been doing this for years.

Can I contribute or pitch a topic?

We’re always open to hearing from practitioners with real experience. If you’ve got insights worth sharing, reach out. Contact us.

How do I unsubscribe?

One click at the bottom of any email. No questions, no guilt trips.