02 won two of the 16 categories at the Marketing Institute All Ireland Marketing (AIM) awards last night. Caoimhe O’Neill won the new product/new market award for the 02 Money Card. Paul Dervan was honoured for leading the marketing team of the year, for various initiatives such as the 02 Money Card, the 02 concert venue and its Irish rugby sponsorship. Other finalists in this category included Marketer of the Year Loretta Dignam.
The market research award went to KBC’s Noirin Ni Laocha for a strategy developed by Millward Brown Lansdowne for the bank to enter the retail deposit market with an online consumer offering. The brand campaign award went to Harvey Norman’s Mariese Louw. Siobhan Lynch of 123.ie took the direct marketing award for a customer expansion programme developed by Acorn Marketing.
The sponsorship management award was accepted by SuperValu’s Maighread Cremin for the integration of its GAA support launched by Micheal O Muircheartaigh. Dublin’ Zoo’s marketing manager Emma Kiernan took top honours in the PR campaigns category for Year of the Gorilla and driving off-peak traffic. The activity, supported by Michael O’Keeffe’s Pembroke Communications, resulted in the zoo’s best year ever.
James Flahavan of the Flahavans porridge oats company won the international marketing award. Rita Kirwan of Largo Foods was rewarded for marketing innovation for its Tayto Park in Ashbourne, Co Meath. Maebh Gleeson of the National Lottery won the integrated marketing award. Today FM’s Gill Waters accepted the corporate social responsibility award for the station’s ‘Shave or Dye’ campaign.
James Whelan Butchers in Clonmel was named the winner of the small business marketing award and Tourism Ireland’s Mark Henry accepted the digital marketing award sponsored by Carat. The advertising campaign award went to Heineken’s Jules Macken. The work was handled by Rothco and Mindshare. Maeve O’Connell of Independent Star won the best use of the Irish language award for its Sult magazine.
Liam Casey, founder and CEO of PCH International, won the special award of all Ireland marketing champion. PCH, which creates, develops and delivers technology products, has made huge inroads into the Chinese market. In his speech, Casey made the point that media in Ireland need to take a more positive stance in covering indigenous business successes. The awards adjudication panel was chaired by Matt Kavanagh and RTE news presenter Bryan Dobson acted as MC. AIM is partnered by the Irish Independent.
Munster and Ireland international rugby star Ronan O’Gara was among the guests.
