Meet the Global Marketer of the Year 2020 nominees: Andrew Garrihy, Huawei

Read The Drum interview with Andrew: Huawei’s top marketer on fusing ‘the best of the west with the best of the east’

Andrew is the Chief Brand Officer for Huawei’s Consumer Business and leads the growth and development of the brand in over 170 countries. He leads the brand strategy, global media, brand advertising, partnerships & sponsorships functions. He has stewarded the brand through periods of exponential growth and existential challenge. Passionate about creating powerful internal culture, he has brought together the best of the East and West to unlock outstanding creativity and innovation. He believes that brands must be a force for good in the world. Good for employees, for communities and for the environment.

But he doesn’t just talk about it, he makes it happen. StorySign, a world first in deaf literacy, an app that translates written text into sign language. Helping 32 million deaf children worldwide, learn to read. Often experiencing the magic of a bed-time story with their parents, for the very first time. 

Andrew has focussed his career on transforming the marketing efforts of the world’s largest technology brands to accelerate brand and sales growth. Named as a Marketing Week (UK) Top 100 marketer in 2019 & 2020, he and his team have been globally recognised for their efforts with Cannes Lions, D&AD Pencils, One Show’s, Clio’s & has even received a BAFTA nomination.

What are the things he's most proud of this year?

“2020 was an extraordinary year in which Huawei, my team, and our partners all faced unprecedented challenges. In the face of this adversity, we supported each other, adapted, flexed, and did some of our best work. We navigated the storm by staying focused on our core brand purpose and by making a meaningful difference.

I am especially proud that even in these difficult times we continued to invest in life changing innovations like Story Sign & Track AI. I am proud of the way we continued to use technology to empower great creativity and engaging marketing. Marketing that drove brand and sales growth. One example is Sonic Escapes, downloaded over 3 million times, a free 3D binaural sound experience that provided a moment of escape at a time when travel was exceedingly difficult. Another example is our Re-Connect campaign filmed in 7 countries in 7 days by empowering directors to create and film independently via a Huawei smartphone.

Finally, I am most proud of how, in the face of great adversity and reputational attacks, this brand quietly and humbly supported the world during the pandemic, providing technology solutions to consumers, hospitals, doctors, and on the ground PPE support to our partners, agencies, and local communities, without seeking to publicise it.”

Also shortlisted for WFA Global Marketer of the Year 2020 are:

• Fernando Machado, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Restaurant Brands International
• Lisa McKnight, SVP and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls Portfolio, Mattel
• Ivan Pollard, SVP, Global Chief Marketing Officer, General Mills
• Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer, Procter & Gamble
• Jane Wakely, Lead CMO, Mars Inc.