New council brings together AEO, social media and communications leaders to help enterprises adapt to an increasingly AI-driven digital environment

As AI-powered search and large language models continue to change how people discover brands, evaluate information and make purchasing decisions, Assemble has launched the Digital Marketing & Communications Council (DMCC) to help enterprise marketing leaders navigate the evolving landscape.

The new council brings together Assemble’s AEO Board with its existing SocialMedia.org and SocialMedia.org Health Boards, creating a broader peer community focused on the future of digital marketing, communications and online visibility.

“The organizations that get ahead won’t be the ones with the most resources. They’ll be the ones learning fastest from each other,” said Aaron Kissel, CEO of Assemble. “That’s why we built the DMCC: a real-time, trusted way to compare notes on the decisions everyone is being forced to make.”

The combined community represents 394 member companies and 1,750 individual members, including organizations representing more than half of the Fortune 500. The network brings together professionals responsible for brand visibility, communications, customer engagement and growth as AI continues to reshape digital experiences.

Navigating a Rapidly Changing Digital Environment

The growing influence of AI search and large language models is creating new challenges for marketing teams. Many organizations are still developing strategies for maintaining visibility and communicating effectively as consumers increasingly rely on AI-powered tools during the discovery and decision-making process.

According to DMCC Membership Director Will White, members within Assemble’s community have reported traffic declines of between 40% and 60%. Nearly two-thirds of members also identify operationalizing Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) as a major near-term challenge.

The questions facing marketing leaders extend beyond website traffic. Organizations are also evaluating how changes in digital discovery could affect conversion rates and revenue, how their brands appear in AI-generated results, how teams should define responsibilities and objectives, and whether media strategies need to change as consumer discovery habits evolve.

The DMCC is designed to provide a peer environment where leaders can exchange information, compare approaches and develop practical responses to these emerging challenges.

DMCC Launch to Be Announced at NAMLS

The new council will be formally introduced during Assemble’s North American Marketing Leadership Summit (NAMLS), taking place September 28–30, 2026.

The event will bring together senior professionals from Digital Marketing, AEO, Social Media, Brand, Communications, Customer Experience, Growth and Digital Strategy. Participants will have an opportunity to share strategies, discuss emerging trends and exchange practical approaches to navigating the changing digital environment.

Assemble CEO Aaron Kissel is scheduled to announce the DMCC during his mainstage address and invite marketing and communications leaders to participate in the new council.

The 2026 NAMLS speaker lineup includes senior executives and marketing leaders from Amazon, PepsiCo, SAP, FIFA World Cup 2026, Spotify, Unilever, KPMG, AT&T, Bayer, State Farm, Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, Synchrony, LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games, Dominion Energy and Goodwill Industries International, among others.

The launch of the DMCC reflects Assemble’s effort to create a collaborative network where enterprise marketing and communications professionals can share knowledge and develop strategies for an increasingly AI-centered digital ecosystem.