The rigor from 12+ years at a top consulting firm.
The pragmatism from three CMO roles at PE- and VC- backed companies.
Fractional CMO, interim CMO, and advisory engagements.
Davis Ward
I spent the first half of my career as a brand and growth strategist at Prophet and the second half as a CMO at VC- and PE-backed companies in financial services, insurance, and senior care.
I now work with $50M–$500M businesses that need senior marketing leadership without a full-time hire.
The work usually involves the same core things: protecting and strengthening the brand, growing revenue through targeted and responsible marketing investment, improving LTV/CAC through deeper customer understanding and rigorous funnel analytics, and leaving the marketing team in better shape than I found it.
What I Do
-
Ongoing senior marketing leadership, typically 10 to 20 hours per week, for companies that need a true CMO without a full-time hire.
-
Full-time or near-full-time coverage during a CMO transition, acquisition integration, or critical growth sprint.
-
Marketing leadership through acquisitions, from pre-close brand diligence through post-close execution and team consolidation.
-
Focused project-based engagements on brand positioning, customer segmentation, go-to-market resets, and funnel diagnostics.
-
Structured advisory for PE and VC portfolio companies to assess, advise, and support marketing leadership across the portfolio.
-
Marketing leadership focused on building the revenue and brand story that drives valuation in the 12 to 24 months before a liquidity event.
Select Experience
CMO A Place for Mom · Zinnia · Policygenius
Partner Prophet
Select Clients Extended Stay Hotels · Alteon Health · JP Morgan Chase · Thrivent · PepsiCo · Ford Motor Company
Start a Conversation
