Coles’ Simon McDowell named AMI marketer of the year
Simon McDowell talks to Tim Burrowes at Mumbrella 360
The marketer who changed the face of Australian supermarket advertising, Simon McDowell of the Coles Group, has been named Marketer of the Year at the Australian Marketing Institute Awards for Marketing Excellence.
McDowell, who joined the Coles Group in 2009 as the marketing and store development director and member of the board has been credited with turning the fortunes of the supermarket chain around.
Mark Crowe, the CEO of AMI, said: “The Institute is thrilled to recognised Simon’s dedication and contribution to the marketing profession.”
McDowell restructured the marketing team to run 90 per cent of all marketing operations in house, from insights, to brand planning and graphic design, across all aspects of the Coles Group business such as loyalty, fly-buys, financial services, credit cards, Coles online, fashion, and liquor. He told Encore: “We’re such a massive business across multiple categories you really want the expertise to reside internally with the right people so it’s a different kind of model and it’s great to get a little bit of industry recognition for the turnaround of the brand. I’m just one person of many, so the rest of the team can take a lot of credit from this as well.”
The top award for marketing program of the year went to Clemenger BBDO Sydney for its work with Hungry Jacks. The “Shake and Win” app also won five gold Effies at the Australian Effie Awards held by the Communications Council in September.
Australia’s most influential media buyer Harold Mitchell, founder of Mitchell and Partners, was presented with the Sir Charles McGrath Award for his lifetime achievement at the award ceremony in Sydney’s Hilton hotel last night. He left agency life earlier this year.
And the AMI’s future leader award went to Rebecca McSwiney, online marketing manager at the University of Southern Queensland.
The AMI Awards for marketing excellence category winners:
Brand Extension
Drop Dead Leggings | Official Clothing and Make Communications
Brand Revitalisation
Sipahh Straws: From Failing Occasional Confectionery | Club Trading and Distribution
Consumer Insight
That’s the Beauty of Tassal | Tassal
Corporate Social Responsibility
Hands on Health | Monash University – Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Digital Marketing
Shaking up the Category and Winning | Clemenger BBDO Sydney
Education
La Trobe Make a Difference Campaign | La Trobe University
Experiential and Brand Experiences
A Place to Remember | Graffiti Group
Incentive Marketing
Australia Post Lead Legends Program | Australia Post
Internal Marketing
The RACT Way | RACT
Marketing Communications – Business to Business
Funeral Alliance Solutions for Business | Marketing Angels
Marketing Communications – Business to Consumer
AAMI’s Rhonda and Ketut – A Love Story | Ogilvy Melbourne
Marketing on a Shoestring
Cringe the Binge | Decoder
New Brand, Product and Service Launch (Joint winners)
Leggo’s Vine Ripe Pasta Sauce | Simplot Australia
Retirement Options Service | Government Employees Superannuation Board
Social Marketing
Crisis Communication – Australia Day Weekend | Brisbane City Council
Sponsorship
Arrive in Style to Grace Kelly: Style Icon with V/Line | V/Line Pty Ltd
Sustainable Marketing
ClimateSmart Home Service | LGIS
Loyalty Programs
Howards Storage World Loyalty Program | Howards Storage World
Megan Reynolds
This piece first appeared in Encore. Download it now on iPad, iPhone and Android tablet devices.
