Note from the MD: Dec 2016

What a year it’s been. I’ve been reflecting on 2016 and am so proud of what we’ve achieved as a network.

Over the past 12 months we’ve run over 100 events all over the world.

From dinner with Pepper the Robot in Dubai to the Pioneering Spirit Awards judging in New Delhi. From sharing the perfect plate with chef David Myers in Singapore to hosting the Being Brave session at Advertising Week New York. From breakfast with author, Parag Khanna in Hong Kong, to launching the International Marketing Leaders Programme with Brand Learning in the US. Then there was last month’s Global Conference that ran across London, Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore beginning with an astronaut and ending with Olympiads.

Great stuff doesn’t happen all by itself.  

Thank you to everyone for making it possible – from our partners to our brilliant speakers and our hardworking team. And as a member organisation, it couldn’t have happened without you – so thank you for being with us for the journey.

I’m really excited about next year, not only because I’m becoming your CEO, but also because of our big ambitions for the future. Hugh has given me the confidence and leadership skills to step into his shoes and we also have an amazing team. And that makes me proud.

An important person in my team is Sarah Woodley, who has been a big part of the Society for the last six years. I’m delighted that Sarah will become our commercial director in 2017. Meanwhile, Elen Lewis, our editor, who I’ve worked with for the last 10 years, will become the editor of Market Leader, following Judie Lannon’s retirement. Elen is the best writer I know and I can’t think of a better person to become guardian of our magazine.

Next year is all about being brave, an issue very close to my heart. I think it’s the one thing that all our best marketing leaders and most successful brands have in common.

We’ll be running regular events in London every second Wednesday of the month so there’s always something going on for Marketing Society members. The first one takes place on Wednesday 18 January with business beatnik, Chris Baréz-Brown showing us how to become a more creative leader.

Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us. We couldn’t do it without you. Here’s to a brave 2017 sharing good ideas with good people all over the world.