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CIM launches ‘North East Marketing Greats’ with region’s top marketers

Fifty of the North East’s leading marketers are backing a new initiative from The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) to develop and retain marketing talent in the region.

‘North East Marketing Greats’ are marketing figureheads from some of the biggest brands in the region and industry sectors that are driving the Northern Powerhouse economy; including manufacturing, digital and logistics. Through the ‘Marketing Greats’ the project aims to provide insight into the importance of a strategic marketing function and to inspire both existing marketing professionals and young people considering a career in marketing. Each ‘Marketing Great’ is profiled in an online case study which includes their words of wisdom for aspiring marketers alongside their career story and why they enjoy working in the region. The first four profiles were revealed at CIM’s careers event on 31 January at Sunderland University and all 50 are now available to view.

Following on from CIM’s ‘Great North East Brands’ initiative, which ran for a number of years, ‘Marketing Greats’ provides a regional platform for marketing to be recognised as having a key role in business growth while celebrating the number of senior marketing roles located in the North East. Chair of CIM North East, Charlie Nettle, explains, “The North East has a rich heritage of manufacturing, but marketers have the huge responsibility of building a brand which customers trust and want to buy again and again. Strong brands enable businesses to differentiate themselves from the competition, therefore the growth of our businesses and the success of our region’s economy is very much in our hands.”

He continued, “Our ‘Marketing Greats’ include an extremely wide range of senior marketers representing public, private and charity sectors, from consumer brands such as Berghaus and Greggs, too business to business brand like Cleveland Bridge and PD Ports. Due to the significant volume of small businesses in the region, we’ve included consultants and agencies too. We’re showcasing industry sectors that are driving he Northern Powerhouse; with Marketing Greats from manufacturing, digital, energy and health, but also the ‘enabler’ sectors of logistics, professional services and education.”

The campaign builds on the North East England Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Great Reasons’ project which highlighted great reasons to do business in the North East and great reasons to build your career in the region. CIM is dedicated to not only supporting junior, senior and board level marketers with a wide range of member benefits, but also to encourage young people to consider a career in marketing and to champion high standards and evolution of the profession.

Charlie continued, “Many of our ‘Marketing Greats’ never actually set out to pursue a career in marketing, but all are pleased to have found it and to be pursuing their careers in the North East. We want marketing to stand out as an exciting career choice at the early stages of a person’s career journey. Hopefully, young people in our region’s schools, colleges and universities will be inspired by the journeys of our ‘Marketing Greats’ and will consider marketing in their future careers.”

Paul Carbert, Policy Advisor at the North East England Chamber of Commerce, said, “This is an excellent initiative, and one that we fully support. To achieve our aim of building a Working north East, we need to ensure that young people are aware of all the career opportunities in the region. The case studies produced for the CIM North East Marketing Greats campaign are a fantastic showcase of the talent we have working in a diverse range of businesses in the region, and they will be a useful resource for young people thinking of a career in marketing or anyone considering a change in career.”

The 50 ’North East Marketing Greats’ profiles can be found at www.cim.co.uk/NEmarketinggreats

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chartered Institute of Marketing .