WFA launches Global Marketer of the Year 2018

WFA has launched the 2018 WFA Global Marketer of the Year award to once again highlight the role that regional and global marketers play in setting the course of the industry and inspiring others to be a force for good.

As in 2017, the award will highlight those executives who are transforming the industry by inspiring their teams, both internal and external, creating brand strategies that make a difference to society as well as delivering better business results for the companies they work for.

Nominations will be sought via an expert jury of global marketers and industry experts from companies such as Emirates, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, Santander and TATA – chaired by WFA President and RBS CMO David Wheldon – as well as from the wider marketing industry, with media partner The Drum publicising the award across its three regional online editions, print magazine and social platforms.

As with the inaugural Global Marketer of the Year, those nominated should demonstrate outstanding leadership in three key areas:

1. Evolving their organisation to be more people-centric, better able to respond to consumer needs and building happier, more engaged teams internally.
2. Working smarter with partners, be they agencies or vendors, and ensuring that the whole team is aligned to the same goals.
3. Delivering inspiring work that genuinely makes a difference, be that cultural, social or for the business.

They should also have been working for their current employer for two years or more.

Nominations can be made through the website wfanet.org/globalmarketeroftheyear or sent to awards@wfanet.org. The deadline for nominations is 30 September.

Nominations will be considered by the expert jury in October, with those shortlisted being profiled in The Drum later in the year.

The winner will be decided by a combination of industry votes and the expert jury verdict, with each counting for 50% of the final score. The winner will be announced in January 2019.

The first Global Marketer of the Year was won by Keith Weed, Unilever’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.

“True leadership brings massive rewards and the very best global and regional marketers, whatever their job title, provide a huge boost to their businesses, our industry and society. Those achievements deserve celebration and I’m delighted that the second Global Marketer of the Year award is now open so that we can find out more about the amazing work the very best in our industry are undertaking. It will be hugely inspiring,” said Stephan Loerke, CEO of the WFA.

"The WFA is the foremost association for marketers and we at The Drum are delighted to aid the search for this year's Global Marketer of the Year. The marketing sector faces so much change and those working within the profession work harder than ever to keep on top of the best strategies to build the businesses they represent. We look forward to recognising the individual who has led the field in that respect this year," said Stephen Lepitak, editor of The Drum.

For more information about the WFA Global Marketer Awards please visit: wfanet.org/globalmarketeroftheyear