The search for Ireland’s top marketing executive is underway with the launch of this year’s Marketer of the Year. Launched by Marketing magazine back in 1993, the competition’s first winner was Cadbury’s marketing director Liam Marnane for rolling out the Time Out snack bar developed at its Coolock factory. Last year’s award went to Peter McKenna (pictured) for his work in driving the GAA and Croke Park brands forward.
Marketer of the Year recognises and honours excellence in Irish marketing, mainly for work done in the last two years. Would-be winners must show that their use of strategy, innovation, communications and impact on the target market made their product or service a major success. Candidates enter by listing their achievements in detail. Entries show the size of the marketing challenge faced and the key aims and objectives.
Expert judges are asked to examine the strategy adopted and its implications for the business. They want to know all about the key insights driving the strategy and the actions taken and tactics used. Sales and awareness levels and success measurement are also taken into account.
UCD Smurfit Business School professor of marketing Dr Damien McLoughlin again chairs the judging panel. He is joined by Ian McShane, Behaviour & Attitudes; Paul O’Sullivan, Volkswagen Passenger Cars; Barry Dooley, Association of Advertisers in Ireland (AAI); Ruth Brady, News UK & Ireland; Annette Ni Dháthlaoi, Liberty Insurance; Sharon Walsh, Heineken Ireland; Jamie Helly, Dynamo; Pat Kiely, TV3; Tom Kinsella, AIB; Carolyn Odgers, marketing consultant; Claire Cluskey, Empirica and John Mitchell, Strata3.
The adjudication process ends with four final contenders making presentations in person to the judges. Anyone interested in running for the award has until Thursday, September 25th to enter. The winner will be announced in November. Marketer of the Year is a Marketing.ie initiative sponsored by Alternatives.
