If you want to prove you are up there with the elite in marketing, it's time to submit your best work for consideration at the 2011 Marketing Society Awards for Excellence, in association with Marketing, and sponsored by BT.
Over the past 26 years, The Marketing Society Awards have set the standard for marketing excellence and established a reputation as the leading marketing awards programme in the UK.
This year there is a new identity, designed by Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, and an unprecedented number of opportunities to be a winner.
The 22 categories include a new Mobile Marketing award as well as ones for Customer Insight, New Brand and Brand Extension.
In addition, the awards night itself, at the London Hilton, Park Lane, on Monday 6 June, will be a memorable opportunity to celebrate in the company of the UK's leading marketers.
This year, the chairman of the awards judges is Ken Wood, chief executive, Weetabix. He will preside over a panel of expert marketers that also includes Rupert Thomas, marketing director of Waitrose, Jon Goldstone, marketing director of Premier Foods, and Jan Gooding, global brand director of Aviva.
Each year these awards add to the industry's knowledge on marketing excellence. The winning case studies will appear in Marketing and on its website ().
All shortlisted and winning case studies will also be available for members of The Marketing Society via its website (). Selected winners, meanwhile, will be showcased at Marketing Society events throughout the year.
The Marketing Society will be publishing more insights from the panel of awards judges over the next few weeks. To read these, visit The Marketing Society's blog at The closing date for entries to The Marketing Society Awards for Excellence 2011 is 11 February. For full details of how to enter, visit
The Marketing Society Awards for Excellence 2011 6 June 2011, 7pm-1am, London Hilton, Park Lane. Contact Steven Lewis on 020 8267 4042 for further details.
The Marketing Society Awards for Excellence 2011 - Judges 2011
Ken Wood, chief executive, Weetabix (chairman of the judges),
Ian Armstrong, European communications manager, Honda,
Kerris Bright, chief marketing officer, BA,
Sally Cowdry, UK marketing director, O2,
Martin George, chief marketing officer, Bupa,
Jon Goldstone, marketing director, Premier Foods,
Jan Gooding, global brand director, Aviva,
Craig Inglis, marketing director, John Lewis,
Chris Jansen, marketing director British Gas Services,
Catherine Kehoe, group brand and communications director, Lloyds TSB,
Vince Kerr, marketing director, UK and Ireland, Fujitsu,
Alistair Macrow, UK marketing director, McDonald's,
Pete Markey, marketing director, RSA,
Ian Marsh, marketing director, Blackrock,
Sheila Mitchell, deputy director marketing, Department of Health,
Professor Vince-Wayne Mitchell, Cass Business School,
Dawn Paine, marketing director, Nintendo,
Amanda Rendle, global head of marketing CMB, HSBC,
Timothy Ryan, senior vice-president marketing, EMI Music,
Jim Slater, marketing director, Costa,
Rupert Thomas, marketing director, Waitrose,
Suki Thompson, managing partner, Oyster-catchers,
Sarah Warby, marketing director, Heineken.
Judges in the spotlight
Hugh Burkitt, Chief executive, The Marketing Society
What did the best marketing of 2010 look like?
Barclays' sponsorship of the 'Boris bikes'. Visible, much-needed to reconnect Barclays with the public, fun to ride and a real contribution to sustainability.
What are the ingredients of marketing excellence?
An original strategy, brilliant execution and outstanding results.
What advice would you offer to marketers looking to create best-practice marketing?
Buy a copy of .
Alistair Macrow, UK marketing director, McDonald's
What advice would you offer to marketers looking to create best-practice marketing?
Always focus on your customers, how they are feeling, how you want to influence them and how you expect your marketing activity to achieve that influence, and don't accept compromise.
The greatest marketing is not the coolest promotion, most beautiful piece of print or most amusing TV ad, it's the piece of work that reaches its target audience and makes them stop, think and change their mind or actions.
Pete Markey, Marketing director, RSA
What did the best marketing of 2010 look like?
John Lewis and Virgin - smart, sophisticated and brand-led campaigns, with a clear message and single-minded focus on re-enforcing a clear and outstanding brand presence.
Other highlights included IKEA's 'Cats' and 'Kitchen' campaigns, both of which took the brand experience beyond the spot and opened up the opportunities presented by social media. Love it or hate it, Gocompare also got people talking, with impressive results to boot.
Martin George, Chief marketing officer, Bupa
What did the best marketing of 2010 look like?
Despite the tremendous impact of new brands, particularly those that have emerged from the ecommerce revolution, my marketing highlight of 2010 was definitely John Lewis.
It is a brand with tremendous heritage and a traditional ownership structure, which has modernised its 'Never knowingly undersold' mantra and embarked on a wonderfully engaging communications campaign that makes it as relevant today as it has ever been.