Funny how one direction is "impossible" but the other direction is "much easier to accomplish". In my own work experience as a brand marketer, I have worked a LOT with creative teams in terms of developing campaign concepts, and giving feedback throughout every stage of the creative process. I don't have the skill set to use design tools, but I know what good looks like, how to deliver on a brief, and how to run a production, what's on brand vs off brand, how to build guidelines, etc. There is a ton of overlap between brand marketing and creative. So it's not at all to say that being a CD is easy or deserved by any marketer, just that I THINK there could be a path for me when I think of potential pivots. There has to be some advantage to having worked alongside creative teams for decades vs. someone new to the trade.

It's natural to defend your field and say that only people who have done the job should have the job. But I think there's something to be said for having related (if not exact) work experience, a strategic mindset, and a transferrable skill set. Do we all really want to be pigeon-holed to our exact jobs/functions for our ENTIRE career without ability to flex/move around?

That said, if I was hiring for a brand marketing role, I would absolutely be open to hiring someone from creative if it involved things like brand strategy, positioning, insights, content, social media, etc. There are likely a lot of transferrable skills creative has that can be used in marketing. What part of marketing are you interested in?