The MAAs honours those who have demonstrated their ability to intersect data, strategy, creativity and technology to deliver incredible results.

It also honours those individuals who have promoted the value of marketing in driving strategy and business growth and propelled constant improvements within the discipline.

The awards say that the search for Marketer of the Year candidates involves a stringent process, beginning with inviting all marketers, entrepreneurs and organisations from around South Africa to nominate their peers.

Eligible suggestions are also put forward for consideration by the Marketing Association of South Africa and the Marketing Awards Council.

Successful candidates proceed through the first qualifying round if they meet strict requirements, including possessing a minimum of eight years' experience as a marketing leader and two years tenure in their current position at the time of entry.

Thereafter, candidates must demonstrate their proven track record across five key pillars, including:
  1. leadership
  2. business and brand growth
  3. modern marketing
  4. internal culture, and
  5. broad-based black economic empowerment.
The awards adds that it comes down to an adjudication committee, chaired by Dr Doug Mattheus, CEO of Doug M Consulting. The panel is made up of experienced marketing professionals and industry experts who sift through written submissions and in-depth interviews with the nominees, their colleagues, partners and superiors to select the finalists.

The MAAs have announced that, in no particular order, the finalists include:
  • Khensani Nobanda, group executive for marketing and corporate affairs at Nedbank
  • Heidi Brauer, chief marketing officer at Hollard
  • Doug Place, chief marketing officer at Nando’s
  • Thulani Sibeko, chartered marketer, and 
  • Bernice Samuels, group marketing executive at MTN Group.
"The committee has identified some incredibly talented strategic marketers this year and it will undoubtedly be a difficult task to select the winner of the Marketer of the Year Award," says Brian Yuyi, CEO of MASA.

"This individual will be someone who, working with their team, has risen to the challenge to collaboratively deliver excellent business results that impact the bottom line and inspired their organisation to utilise marketing to its fullest potential. They are affirming the wisdom of having marketers assume their well-deserved seat at the Boardroom table," concludes Yuyi.

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