What does it take to evolve from Marine Corps infantry officer to CMO and board leader? In this episode of Retail Relates, Tony Wells shares the lessons that carried him from the Marine Corps to the C-suite.

Tony’s career spans senior roles at Nissan, Visa, Schneider Electric, ADT, 24 Hour Fitness, USAA, and Verizon, where he most recently served as Chief Media Officer. Today, he’s a Venture Partner at AZ-VC and serves on the boards of Yelp, Nexstar, and TripleLift. His journey is filled with pivotal moments - mentorship that opened doors, career risks that paid off, and personal trials that underscored the importance of resilience.

Tony candidly addresses today’s marketing challenges, warning of the over-rotation toward performance at the expense of brand. “Brand answers the question ‘why,’ performance answers ‘why now,’” he explains, outlining a framework for sustainable growth.

From career self-management to board governance, Tony offers practical wisdom and inspiration for professionals at every stage. If you’re navigating change, building a career, or leading teams, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

Tony Wells Biography
Marketing Strategy | Brand Leadership | Board Governance

Tony Wells is a strategic marketing and transformation leader with over 25 years of experience driving growth, brand evolution, and digital innovation across leading Fortune 500 companies.
Tony is currently a Venture Partner at AZ-VC, which is Arizona’s largest venture capital fund. Previously, Wells was the Chief Media Officer for Verizon, one of the world’s leading providers of technology and communications services, generating more than $133 billion in revenue and serving more than 120 million customers. Before Verizon, he served as Chief Brand Officer for USAA, the 13-million-member Fortune 100 and +$35 billion revenue financial services company serving America’s military community. His career also spans executive roles at Schneider Electric, ADT, 24 Hour Fitness, and Visa, where he built and led high-performing teams, delivered award-winning campaigns, and championed digital and organizational transformation.

A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Marine Corps officer, Tony brings a mission-first, values-driven approach to leadership. Today, he serves as a board member, advisor, and mentor for several organizations including the Association of National Advertisers, focused on advancing innovation, diversity, and the next generation of leaders. Tony is recognized for his commitment to service, inclusion, and meaningful impact in both business and the broader community.