#105: Keurig Dr Pepper CMO Drew Panayiotou | Challenger Energy Fuels Dr Pepper

About this episode

When you’re up against giants, speed and creativity become your superpowers.
Recorded live at Advertising Week New York 2025, this conversation with Drew Panayiotou, CMO at Keurig Dr Pepper, dives into how Dr Pepper’s challenger mindset—and relentless creativity—turned an underdog into a market leader.
From transforming Best Buy’s digital future to guiding Pfizer through the pandemic, Drew has built a career on driving growth through agility and purpose. He and Jason explore how to turn legacy brands into modern disruptors, why longevity beats reinvention, and what it really takes to build raving fans in a world that rewards speed over substance.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Challenger energy fuels creativity, not chaos
✅ The best campaigns evolve—they don’t reset
✅ Great brands grow by deepening relationships, not widening reach
✅ Progress beats perfection in a world that never slows down
Memorable Moments:
💡 “The best brands don’t chase new fans—they obsess over their raving ones.”
💡 “Marketers get bored faster than consumers ever will.”
💡 “Agility isn’t about moving fast—it’s about moving together.”
💡 “It’s not funnel thinking anymore. It’s a flywheel.”
Brought to you by Mekanism.