The Marketing Achievement Awards – an event that aims to celebrate excellence in the science and art of marketing – will recognise and reward marketers whose work demonstrates the value inherent to the discipline, while simultaneously raising the marketing industry’s profile and elevating it to the position it rightfully deserves within South Africa’s businesses.

Yvonne Johnston, chairperson of the Marketing Awards council, says, "The Marketing Achievement Awards is a way for us to help bring credibility and gravitas to the profession."

Simon Camerer, chief customer officer at MultiChoice, adds, "The marketing world is changing. With shifting market forces and an unpredictable economy, we require marketing ingenuity that continues to drive work forward despite these challenges. As such, we are hoping for work that shows success within these kinds of contexts."

"MASA’s core purpose is to elevate the professionalism of marketing, and represent and protect the business interests of marketers," says Greg Garden, CEO of MASA.

"Spotlighting and recognising exceptional marketing achievements are impactful ways of doing this, and as such we are very pleased to play a partnership role in making these awards the benchmark for marketing excellence in South Africa." 

Entrants need to prove their strategic abilities in one of the following categories: 
  • Purpose led marketing
  • Strategic sponsorship marketing
  • Brand positioning
  • Marketing innovation
  • New product or brand launch
  • Reputation management (Corporate and Brand)
  • South African resonance marketing
  • Brand marketing B2B
  • Integrated marketing
  • Limited budget, unlimited idea
  • Internal marketing
  • Rising Star of the year (nominated)
  • Marketer of the year (nominated)
The Marketing Achievement Awards are overseen by a collective that Garden describes as an 'excellent group of judges with extensive marketing and business experience'.

Johnston and Camerer are joined on the council by Geoff Whyte, chief executive officer of Nando's (and also founding partner of the awards); Alistair Mokoena, chief executive officer of Ogilvy South Africa; Heidi Brauer, chief marketing officer of Hollard Insurance; Rob Fleming, chief marketing officer of Blue Label Telecoms; Lethepu Matshaba, vice president of Home Care Unilever; and Mike Middleton, marketing consultant and futurist.

The Marketing Achievement Awards aims to highlight world-class campaigns that display vigour, insight, authenticity and innovation in the science and art of strategy; simple marketing that combines rigorous upfront thinking with solid ideas that go beyond mere communication.

The conveners are looking for short, easy-to-prepare entries that demonstrate how customer needs have been identified and used to focus, align and empower organisations to continually meet these and, ultimately, achieve tangible business results.

All marketers from across South Africa are encouraged to enter their work so that they can be measured against, and recognised by, their peers.

Entrants need to browse through the categories available and enter relevant work into one or more. Judges are looking for a concise, clear understanding of strategic intent captured, for most categories, in one thousand words or less.

Additional collateral to back this up is also required. Entries close on Friday, 22 February. Thereafter, the event will be hosted at Sun City from Tuesday, 2 April to Thursday, 4 April, with the Marketing Achievement Awards forum and gala awards dinner taking place on Wednesday, 3 April.

For more information, visit www.marketingawards.co.za. You can also follow the Marketing Achievement Awards on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.