J

John Watton

CEO

London, United Kingdom23 yrs 5 mos experience
Highly StableAI Enabled

Key Highlights

  • Led marketing transformation at VMware across 40+ countries.
  • Achieved 9,000 attendees at VMware's flagship event.
  • Transformed Adobe's EMEA marketing, growing ASV by 25% CAGR.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a seasoned marketing leader in the SaaS and B2B sectors.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Strategic Marketing ManagementStart-up LeadershipB2c MarketingGtm StrategyProduct MarketingStrategic MarketingCustomer EngagementGrowth MarketingEvent MarketingBranding & IdentityB2b Marketing Strategy

Other Skills

Start-up VenturesPaid Media StrategyCustomer Acquisition StrategiesArtificial Intelligence (AI)Social Media MarketingGTMField MarketingPartner MarketingContent MarketingDigital MarketingBrand StrategyDemand GenerationAdvertisingOnline MarketingSegmentation

About

Hi, I’m John Watton. I’ve led marketing at global tech brands like Adobe, VMware and Yext, building high-performing teams and delivering commercial growth across EMEA and global markets. I understand the pressures of scaling and how marketing can (and should) drive the business forward. Over the years I’ve worked directly with GTM leaders in high growth companies to help reset teams, optimise performance, and unlock new growth - all powered by creativity, tech and AI. I believe in cutting through the noise, focusing on outcomes, and building marketing that earns its seat at the table. My depth of experience lets you do just that - faster, smarter, and with real impact. I lead brand positioning, customer engagement and GTM execution for LettsArt (no-code, AI software for artists and gallerists) and LettsSafari (subscription-based rewilding), as well as advise other start-ups on AI and growth marketing. I'm also an investor in cleantech, wellness and eco brands, co-Chair for LettsSafari and a Patron of Chiswick House & Gardens Trust. When not working you can find me trying to make the perfect caffé macchiato, going to gigs, fiddling with analog synthesisers or listening to electronic music. I'm also renovating a property in Puglia, so desperately trying to improve my Italian!

Experience

23 yrs 5 mos
Total Experience
2 yrs 7 mos
Average Tenure
--
Current Experience

Asset class

Strategic Marketing

Sep 2025Present · 9 mos · London Area, United Kingdom · Remote

Fresh projects - software for architects & engineers

Strategic Marketing

Sep 2025Present · 9 mos · London Area, United Kingdom · Remote

Delphi | b corp

Advisor

Apr 2025Present · 1 yr 2 mos · Hybrid

  • Work with the founders of this exciting brand and reputation consultancy. Advise the team on market positioning, client proposals and future direction.

Pixis

Strategic Advisor

Mar 2025Present · 1 yr 3 mos · Remote

  • Provide strategic guidance, industry insights, and expert advice to support Pixis's growth, innovation, and market expansion efforts.

Jwa | john watton advisory

Fractional CMO

Mar 2024Present · 2 yrs 3 mos · London Area, United Kingdom · Remote

  • Help tech-led businesses get more out of their marketing in an AI-powered world.
  • Work with SaaS scale-ups across a diverse portfolio of sectors including Fintech, Adtech, Art, nature restoration and the built environment.
  • Operate in four areas:
  • Audits: Demand Generation, Product Marketing, Brand, Positioning (project-based)
  • CMO Advisory (monthly subscription)
  • Fractional CMO (retainer)
  • Coaching (leadership, AI for marketing teams)
Strategic Marketing ManagementStart-up LeadershipStart-up Ventures

Lettsgroup

Fractional CMO - LettsArt & LettsSafari

Mar 2024Present · 2 yrs 3 mos · London Area, United Kingdom · Remote

  • Fractional CMO for LettsArt (no-code, AI software for artists and gallerists) and LettsSafari (subscription-based rewilding).
  • I shape and execute marketing strategies that fuel growth for these branded ventures, all founded on an AI-powered VentureFactory. Lead brand positioning, customer engagement and GTM execution - balancing strategic leadership with AI and hands-on delivery across campaigns, content and community building. Role extends beyond marketing to influencing product vision and customer experience, ensuring these ventures scale with clarity, creativity and measurable impact.
B2C MarketingBranding & IdentityPaid Media StrategyCustomer Acquisition StrategiesStrategic MarketingArtificial Intelligence (AI)+2

Path7

Advisor

Mar 2024Present · 2 yrs 3 mos · Remote

  • Product/offerings development, strategic messaging and client pitch reviews for this innovative growth platform for partner marketing.

Vmware

VP Marketing EMEA (EMEA CMO)

Oct 2021Mar 2024 · 2 yrs 5 mos · London, Paris, Munich, Milan, Stockholm, Madrid, Tel Aviv, Dubai · Remote

  • Led major marketing transformation initiative, restructuring team of 100 in 40+ countries around an integrated campaign approach, establishing a data-driven methodology.
  • Responsible for the regional marketing strategy across 40+ countries ($4bn revenue), including all aspects of the planning, programming and successful operational execution of all programs and campaigns across the EMEA region. Managed an eight figure opex budget.
  • Led a talented team of approximately 100 marketing professionals with expertise in enterprise, ABM, industry, executive marketing, mid-market & partner marketing, solutions marketing, lead generation, events and marketing operations. Responsible for customer & partner engagement at VMware Explore Barcelona - VMware's flagship regional event acquiring 9,000 attendees (+50% vs target) in 2022.
  • VMware was acquired by Broadcom in November 2023.

St mary’s university, twickenham

Guest Lecturer

Sep 2021Present · 4 yrs 9 mos · Twickenham · On-site

  • Guest lecturing on marketing, corporate entrepreneurship and innovation final year students.

Yext

SVP, International Marketing & Growth

Mar 2020Oct 2021 · 1 yr 7 mos · London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo · Remote

  • Helped Yext ($300M ARR) with its incredible transformation from a business listings company into the next big thing in AI Search. Led comprehensive marketing transformation, integrating EMEA & APAC sub-regions and centralizing marketing operations while delivering +40% YoY lead growth.
  • We built a marketing growth engine, growing our contactable database +600%, reducing cost of acquisition by 50% and doubling lead conversion. Contributing to a 12% increase in revenue & a 10% increase in profit YoY.
  • We launched new products in record time, scaled up video, audio, search and display advertising, ran some really cool (virtual) events, hosted the likes of Louis Theroux, Fred Sirieix, Idriss Aberkane, Jennifer Weiss and (personal highlight, as I got to interview her) Gillian Anderson.
Product MarketingStrategic MarketingGTMGrowth MarketingField MarketingPartner Marketing+4

Adobe

3 roles

Senior Director, EMEA Marketing (EMEA CMO - B2B)

Feb 2018Mar 2020 · 2 yrs 1 mo

  • In the final chapter of my Adobe story, I returned to Europe and led the transformation of EMEA marketing for Adobe’s Enterprise business (Experience Cloud, Creative Cloud and Document Cloud) growing ASV by 25% CAGR to $600M ASV.
  • Oversight of a $30M+ budget and a 60 person organization. Main focus was pipeline and exceeding plan by scaling operations with data insights and a focus on ROI.
  • I scaled our reach by launching Adobe's largest ever virtual event (in 2019), "Experience Festival", a two day event simultaneously live streamed in English, French & German with over 28,000 registrations. I also transformed physical events into an interactive live experience, "CXM Space", featuring actors & staged sets where delegates took a tour through the process of booking & enjoying travel.
Strategic MarketingGrowth MarketingField MarketingGTM StrategyDigital MarketingArtificial Intelligence (AI)+2

Senior Director, Global Brand Marketing

May 2017Feb 2018 · 9 mos

  • Moved to San Francisco to lead the global marketing strategy for the $2bn Adobe Experience Cloud business.
  • I launched Adobe's Enterprise Brand Campaign "Make Experience Your Business" including planning and execution of $50M+ media budget.
  • Was asked to make my stay in the Bay Area permanent, but family commitments meant a permanent move wasn't to be. Six years on, the "Experience Makers" campaign is still alive and well, testament to the concepts we built in many fraught creative reviews.
Strategic MarketingGrowth MarketingField MarketingPartner MarketingArtificial Intelligence (AI)B2B Marketing Strategy+3

Marketing Director, Adobe Marketing Cloud EMEA

Oct 2013May 2017 · 3 yrs 7 mos

  • Phase 1 (of 3) at Adobe involved leadership of 30+ marketers with responsibility for raising awareness and driving demand for Adobe Marketing Cloud in EMEA. We achieved market leading brand awareness and share of voice in key markets plus double digit revenue growth YoY. My talented team were awesome - we re-organized and scaled up operations through a shift to integrated customer journeys, data driven insights and a digital-first approach.
  • I also led Adobe Summit EMEA (the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 editions), the biggest digital marketing conference in EMEA, more than doubling the number of delegates in five years to 7,000+. I'm proud to have been responsible for the benchmark in large events, including working directly with superstar guests like Victoria Beckham, Heston Blumenthal, Amal Clooney, Benedict Cumberbatch and Colin Firth. In my time Summit won “IT event of The Year” in the Annual C&IT B2B Events Awards as well as the "Grand Prix" Award across 18 categories and 50+ nominations, scoring a “perfect 10” from every judge. What an event, what a team.
Branding & IdentityStrategic MarketingBrand StrategyB2B Marketing Strategy

Silverpop

Vice President Marketing

Jan 2012Jan 2013 · 1 yr · London, Munich

  • Market leader in B2C email ; expanding into marketing automation. I redefined market positioning for the region and scaled pipeline generation through shifting to digital.
Strategic MarketingB2B Marketing StrategyGTM StrategyDemand GenerationGrowth MarketingPartner Marketing

Expedia group

Global Marketing Director (Global CMO)

Jan 2011Jan 2012 · 1 yr · London, Seattle, Dallas

  • Global role, leading EAN's worldwide marketing team. Relaunched the brand, upped our web presence and hired our first PR agency, increasing awareness and reach. Also ran an in-house team that provided digital marketing advice to our customers.
Strategic MarketingB2B Marketing StrategyDemand GenerationGrowth MarketingGTM Strategy

Shipserv

Chief Marketing Officer

Jan 2007Jan 2011 · 4 yrs · London, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Manila

  • Worked closely with the founder/CEO for this global B2B marketplace. Grew GMV from $600m to $2.1bn in three years, and launched new products including business listings and an ad network.
  • Developed experience in working in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. Used technology to punch above our weight in digital, SEO and social. On Marketo’s Beta program and their first non-US customer. Refreshed brand and gave the company a more human face.
Strategic MarketingB2B Marketing Strategy

Cramer, amdocs oss division

Director of Global Demand

Jan 2006Jan 2007 · 1 yr · London, Dallas, Tel Aviv, Sydney

  • Global role for this UK telco software business, leading global demand and campaigns. Acquired by Amdocs.
Strategic MarketingB2B Marketing StrategyDemand GenerationBrand StrategyBranding & IdentityProduct Marketing+2

Microsoft

Head of Enterprise Marketing (UK Enterprise CMO)

Jan 2003Jan 2006 · 3 yrs · Reading, United Kingdom

  • CMO for the UK Enterprise business - a $1bn subsidiary. Led growth, executive, ABM, partner and industry programs, and was press spokesperson for UK business.
Strategic MarketingB2B Marketing Strategy

Clubtm

Co-Founder

Jan 2001Jan 2006 · 5 yrs · London Area, United Kingdom · Remote

  • Before LinkedIn, before Social Media, set up a networking group for Technology Marketing Executives to share experiences and challenges. The idea was borne out of a desire to learn from my peers and meet in a “non-salesy” forum. We met quarterly, over dinner, and each time we had a topic for discussion, sometimes inviting a guest speaker. No overt agenda and no one selling anything.
  • The beautiful thing is some of the individuals I recruited have remained friends and I’m still in touch with 20 years later. The power of community!
Strategic MarketingB2B Marketing Strategy

ariba

Marketing Director

Jan 2000Jan 2003 · 3 yrs · London, Paris, Munich, Amsterdam

  • I describe my time at Ariba as an MBA in a box. I got to see every facet of business from hyper-growth to rapid crash to recovery. We were bigger than GE in market cap, grew our teams by 3x then had to let everyone go. I came out more resilient & tougher, taking the European business from almost zero to $100m in 3 years. What a roller coaster!

Education

University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business

Leading@Adobe for Senior Leaders

Jan 2016Jan 2016

Hult Ashridge Executive Education

Corporate Education — Ashridge Leadership Process

Jan 2015Jan 2015

Henley Business School

Corporate Education — Leadership/Management

Jan 2005Jan 2005

Center for Leadership Studies

Corporate Education — Situational Leadership

Jan 2004Jan 2004

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management

Corporate Education — Strategic Marketing

Jan 2003Jan 2003

Peppers & Rogers Group

Corporate Education — Customer Relationship Management

Jan 1996Jan 1996

Huthwaite

Corporate Education — SPIN Selling

Jan 1990Jan 1990

The University of Manchester

BSc (Hons) — Computer Science

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