Vivian Lan
SingularityU Mexico Director | Exponential Technology Expert | Social Entrepreneur | Co-Founder, Uma School | Innovation & Future of Work Speaker
Fernando Machado
Operating Partner, Garnett Station Partners | Co-Founder, LIONS Growth MBA | Board Member, Braze | Former CMO, Activision Blizzard & RBI
Few marketers combine creative firepower with C-suite credibility the way Fernando Machado does. Named Forbes' Top 3 Most Influential CMO and Business Insider's Most Innovative CMO in the World, he has shaped iconic brands at Unilever, Restaurant Brands International, and Activision Blizzard. As Operating Partner at Garnett Station Partners and co-founder of the LIONS Growth MBA, he now leads at the nexus of brand, PE, and marketing education.
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Fernando Machado biography
Marketing speaker Fernando Machado ranks among the most decorated marketing minds of his generation — named “Top 3 Most Influential CMO in the World” by Forbes, “Most Innovative CMO in the World” by Business Insider, and one of the “Top 100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company. His career spans decades of building some of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands, with creativity at the center of every strategy.
Speaker Fernando Machado currently serves as Operating Partner at Garnett Station Partners (GSP), a private equity firm managing around $5 billion in investments across the fast-food, pet care, and services industries. He also sits on the board of Braze (NASDAQ: BRZE), a leading cloud-based customer engagement platform, and co-founded the LIONS Growth MBA in partnership with LIONS Learning — a program designed to train marketers to harness creativity for measurable business outcomes. Alongside these roles, he advises global brands including Heineken, Mars, Kraft Heinz, and Unilever.
Before his current portfolio, Machado spent two years as Chief Marketing Officer at Activision Blizzard, leading marketing for iconic titles including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and Candy Crush. Prior to that, he dedicated seven years to Restaurant Brands International, where he helped reinvigorate Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons through purpose-driven strategy, modernized design, and digital innovation.
From Dove to Activision: A Career Built on Bold Bets
Fernando’s marketing foundation was forged during 18 years at Unilever, where he rose from intern to senior leadership across multiple categories and geographies. His most celebrated achievement from that era is Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” — a campaign that redefined what purpose-driven advertising could accomplish and became one of the most watched branded videos in history.
Across every role, Machado has championed the belief that creativity is not a cost center but a strategic advantage — one that, deployed correctly, separates great brands from the rest.
As a marketing speaker, Fernando Machado challenges audiences to rethink how they deploy creativity within their organizations. Drawing on campaigns across gaming, fast food, and consumer goods — and hard-won lessons from boardroom to brief — his talks equip senior marketing leaders, brand teams, and executive audiences with frameworks for turning bold creative ideas into sustained business growth. Attendees leave with a clear-eyed view of what separates good marketing from legendary brand-building.
Fernando Machado Speaking Videos
Fernando Machado - The Future of Brands and Gaming
Fernando Machado
Fernando Machado Keynote Topics
Fernando makes the case that creativity isn't a soft skill — it's a measurable strategic asset. Drawing on campaigns that have shaped global brands across consumer goods, fast food, and gaming, he shows leaders how to build organizational cultures where bold ideas thrive, how to evaluate creative risk intelligently, and how creativity compounds into durable brand equity and business growth.
From Dove's 'Real Beauty Sketches' to Burger King's turnaround and Activision's gaming franchises, Fernando has led brand transformations at a scale few marketers have matched. This keynote unpacks the frameworks behind reinventing legacy brands — embedding purpose, modernizing identity, navigating digital disruption, and aligning creativity with commercial outcomes — with real lessons from the front line.
As AI reshapes every aspect of marketing — from media buying to content creation — Fernando explores what it means to build brands in a world of infinite noise and shifting consumer values. He addresses how marketing leaders can harness AI without losing the human creative edge, how to market with genuine purpose rather than just purpose-washing, and what the next generation of great brand-building looks like.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Fernando Machado
Why Fernando Machado?
Booking Fernando Machado as your marketing speaker is a strategic choice that will elevate any event focused on brand strategy, creativity, and growth. Few executives have built award-winning campaigns across as many industries — from Dove's 'Real Beauty Sketches' at Unilever to iconic gaming titles at Activision Blizzard and the reinvention of Burger King at Restaurant Brands International. Named Forbes' Top 3 Most Influential CMO and Business Insider's Most Innovative CMO in the World, Fernando brings real creative authority to the stage. His talks don't just inspire — they equip marketing leaders and business executives with actionable frameworks for turning creativity into competitive advantage. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check his availability.
What is Fernando Machado best known for?
Fernando Machado is best known for his work as one of the world's most creative and influential Chief Marketing Officers. He is widely recognized for leading Dove's 'Real Beauty Sketches' campaign at Unilever — one of the most-watched branded videos in history — and for his transformative marketing tenure at Restaurant Brands International, where he revitalized Burger King through bold, purpose-driven creative strategies. He has been named 'Top 3 Most Influential CMO in the World' by Forbes, 'Most Innovative CMO in the World' by Business Insider, and 'Grand Brand Genius' by Adweek.
What keynote topics does marketing speaker Fernando Machado cover?
Marketing speaker Fernando Machado covers topics at the intersection of creativity, brand strategy, and business growth. His keynotes address how organizations can leverage bold creative thinking to drive measurable results, how to build and reinvent global brands, the future of marketing in an AI-driven world, and purpose-driven marketing that resonates with today's consumers. He draws from his experiences leading campaigns across Unilever, Restaurant Brands International, and Activision Blizzard, and his current advisory work with global brands. His sessions are tailored for senior marketing leaders, brand teams, and C-suite executives. To book Fernando Machado, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Fernando Machado as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Fernando Machado as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Fernando Machado's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Fernando Machado or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Fernando Machado speaking fee?
Fernando Machado speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Fernando Machado to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Fernando Machado.
How can I contact Fernando Machado?
We only work with Fernando Machado on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Fernando Machado and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Fernando Machado speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Fernando Machado for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Fernando Machado for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Fernando Machado is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Fernando Machado for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
