Who should be crowned Global Marketer of the Year 2020? WFA and The Drum start search

“This has been a hugely challenging year for marketers but also one where the very best have demonstrated the difference that great leadership can make. With the fourth Global Marketer of the Year award now open we can celebrate the ability of marketing and marketers to drive their businesses forward for the benefit of shareholders, partners and people,” said Stephan Loerke, chief executve of WFA.

Who should be named Global Marketer of the Year 2020?

• The award scheme will celebrate the work that marketers from around the world have done to strengthen brands and businesses during the pandemic and beyond, with one luminary taking the accolade of the world’s top marketer.

• WFA President and Mastercard chief marketing officer Raja Rajamannar is among those to have previously scooped the prize. Last year, the title was given to L’Oréal’s chief digital officer Lubomira Rochet, in recognition of her work in leading the company's digital transformation.

• As the search for Global Marketer of the Year 2020 gets underway, nominations will be sought from the wider marketing industry.

• An expert jury of global marketers and industry experts chaired by Rajamannar, will also help with the selection.

• Other judges include: Eloísa Moscardó, corporate advertising director at Santander; May Zhang, deputy secretary general, China Association of National Advertisers; Debbie Morrison, managing director, global partnerships and events at Ebiquity; Charlotte McEleny, The Drum's APAC publisher; and Nick Broomfield, director and global client lead, Dentsu.

Ok, how can I nominate?

• Nominations can be made on the WFA website or sent to or sent to awards@wfanet.org.

• Those nominated should demonstrate outstanding leadership in three key areas:

1. Evolving their organisation to be more people-centric, better able to respond to consumer needs and building happier, more engaged teams internally

2. Working smarter with partners, be they agencies or vendors, and ensuring that the whole team is aligned to the same goals

3. Delivering inspiring work that genuinely makes a difference, be that culturally, for the business or for society as a whole.

Anything else?

• Nominees should also have been working for their current employer for two years or more.

• The deadline for nominations is 25 October 2020. Nominations will be considered by the expert jury in November, with those shortlisted being profiled in The Drum and on the WFA’s website later in the year.

• The winner will be decided by a combination of public voting by the industry and the expert jury verdict, with each counting for half of the final score. The winner will be announced in January 2021.

• “2020 has been a year in which marketers have had to respond at speed to the impact of Covid-19; build resilience against the backdrop of an economic recession; and truly live their values in the face of global social unrest,“ said Rebecca Stewart, trends editor at The Drum.

• “As we occupy this vulnerable moment for the industry our readers will be looking to crown a marketing leader who has foresight on the big hairy issues and can offer up solutions that work, not only for their own business, but the industry at large.

• “We are dedicating all of our editorial resource to helping our readers navigate these challenging times. So, I look forward to the team at The Drum working with the WFA and being key part of the selection process.“