The Marketing Society GCC Awards

The Marketing Society has been celebrating great marketing leadership since 1959. Recently, we brought the awards to the UAE to build on a 35-year legacy, and to recognise and honour marketing excellence and the talent within our region.

We are delighted to do so through three awards at our first ever GCC Awards on Wednesday 9 December. And the winners are…  
 

Inspirational Leadership Award

We began with an impromptu award to recognise Dubai World Trade Centre–led by the efforts of their Executive Vice President, Trixie Lohirmmand–for pulling together the biggest in-person global tech show of 2020.

Outstanding Leadership Award

This award recognises an individual, brand or group that in this most challenging of years has inspired others through their leadership.

We were honoured to have this opportunity to show our appreciation and recognise all the Health Care Bodies across the GCC region.
 
Throughout the pandemic, they have collectively kept us informed and updated, created apps and tools to help us understand the situation and how to best to deal with it.  Their use of social media was highly effective and informative and their live briefing sessions were one of the main forms of media that people tuned into almost daily. They have forged the path ahead, taken care of us and helped us all get back on our feet.
 

Marketing Leader of the Year

The Marketing Leader of the Year award is designed to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary talent in the region. To be considered for this award, an individual must have taken a brave and bold approach over the past year, taking risks in a challenging environment, pivoting and transforming their approach or were a force for good on society in general within the region.

We are delighted to share that Mohammed Ismaeel, Senior Vice President Marketing – Central Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), Visa is our Marketing Leader of the Year 2020.
 
Mohammed has over 16 years’ experience in the finance and banking industry and ten years in the FMCG sector. He has spearheaded global campaigns across a variety of marketing functions. He is a leader who demonstrates consistent successful and brave leadership, with a proven record of delivering results, someone who is an articulate communicator who encourages those around them and their team to take risks, learn, innovate and be creative.

Brand of the Year in partnership with LANDOR & FITCH

To be considered for this award, the nominated brands must have taken a brave and bold approach to marketing over the past year, taken risks in a challenging environment, pivoted and transformed their business model with clear results or were a force for good on society in general within the region.

Congratulations to our 2020 Brand of the Year, Emirates Airline. 

Our Awards committee recognised Emirates for demonstrating agility and pace in reacting to an unpredictable and evolving situation to revitalise their brand. This year, they have demonstrated brave marketing and leadership by taking risks, whilst ensuring that customers remain at the heart of their decisions. In a year where the hospitality and airline industries have been one of those hardest hit, Emirates has reacted admirably and with honesty.