The Chartered Institute of Marketing names SSE CMO Jenny Ashmore president
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has confirmed that SSE chief marketing officer Jenny Ashmore is to take on the role of president at the professional body for marketing, with NHS Scotland associate director of marketing and customer engagement for National Services Scotland, Matthew Neilson, joining the CIM as chair.
The two senior appointments will help inform CIM strategy, according to Anne Godfrey, CIM chief executive. Of the appointments, Godfrey commented: “We are thrilled to be welcoming Jenny and Matthew as our new president and chair. They are two highly experienced marketers who have held top-level positions at hugely respected major multinational companies. I look forward to their wealth of experience informing our strategy at CIM as we continue our journey in becoming an even more customer-led organisation.”
As president Ashmore will support the CIM’s wider outreach to professionals, businesses and the general public, whilst promoting the importance of responsible marketing, personal development and professional standards with organisations based both in the UK and overseas.
As well as holding senior marketing positions at the likes of Yell and Procter and Gamble, Ashmore’s career has also included time spent at Mars as global chief marketing officer, where she was responsible for the development and implementation of its marketing-driven philosophy and approach across global markets.
“I am excited to take on the role of president at a really important period for CIM as they deliver their three-year strategy, and at a time when the marketing industry is going through great changes in areas such as data and analytics, sustainability and social responsibility,” said Ashmore.
New CIM chair Matthew Neilson added: “CIM has a number of exciting initiatives planned over the year ahead and I eagerly await getting involved in strengthening its role in representing and developing the profession. I’m looking forward to drawing on my experience of promoting sustainable and responsible business practices to proactively engage the industry with best practice and its role as the interface between business and consumers.”
Prior to joining NHS Scotland, Neilson was with Unilever as senior global sustainability manager and before this held a number of roles at Royal Mail, including head of sustainability and head of specialist marketing. He has also been trustee and vice-chair at CIM since 2010, and will take over Andrew Harvey’s role as chair.