The Marketing Society
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| The Marketing Society | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Marketing Society |
| Formation | 1959 |
| Type | Professional association |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Region served | International |
| Leader title | President |
The Marketing Society is a professional association founded in 1959 that convenes senior marketing leaders, chief marketing officers and senior executives from corporations, media groups and marketing consultancies. It operates as a membership-based body with activities spanning networking, thought leadership, awards programmes and commissioned research. The organisation frequently engages with advertising agencies, technology vendors and academic institutions across the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and Asia.
History
The organisation emerged in the late 1950s amid postwar commercial expansion when executives from Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Mars, Incorporated, Rowntree, and agencies such as Ogilvy and J. Walter Thompson sought a forum for exchanging strategic ideas. Early leadership included senior figures from Cadbury, Imperial Chemical Industries, BP, Shell plc and retail chains like Marks & Spencer and Tesco. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s it intersected with cultural shifts represented by BBC Television Centre broadcasts and advertising trends from Saatchi & Saatchi. In the 1980s and 1990s, members debated deregulation themes associated with Thatcherism and managerial reforms influenced by thinkers linked to Harvard Business School and London Business School. The digital era prompted partnerships with technology firms such as IBM, Microsoft, Google, Apple Inc. and media owners including News Corporation and Time Warner. Recent decades saw collaborations with consultancy groups like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Accenture and engagement with academic research from Oxford University and Cambridge University.
Mission and Objectives
The organisation's stated mission focuses on elevating the practice of marketing among senior practitioners from firms such as Unilever, Nestlé, Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Heineken N.V.. Objectives include fostering strategic leadership among members representing companies like IKEA, Amazon (company), Apple Inc., Samsung, and Sony, encouraging ethical standards referenced by regulators such as Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom), and promoting innovation reflected in initiatives by Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Snap Inc.. It aims to connect corporate marketers with creative industries exemplified by WPP, Publicis Groupe, Interpublic Group, and Dentsu.
Membership and Governance
Membership typically comprises chief marketing officers and senior marketers from multinational corporations including Diageo, L'Oréal, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and BMW. Governance has historically involved a board of presidents and chairs drawn from companies like Vodafone Group, BT Group, HSBC, Barclays, and Lloyds Banking Group. Advisory roles have included figures from agencies such as Grey Global Group and consultancies including KPMG. The organisation’s constitution establishes election procedures similar to professional bodies such as Institute of Directors and reporting practices comparable to Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Programs and Events
The organisation runs plenary lectures, roundtables, and intimate salons featuring speakers from institutions like Harvard Business School, INSEAD, Wharton School, and think-tanks including Chatham House and Royal Society for the Arts. Signature events have hosted executives from Netflix, Spotify, BBC, Channel 4, and Sky Group. It stages debates on topics involving regulators such as Ofcom and marketplace shifts represented by Alibaba Group, Tencent, and Salesforce. Regional chapters have convened in cities associated with multinational hubs like New York City, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong and Sydney.
Awards and Recognition
The organisation administers awards celebrating leadership and creative excellence with past recipients drawn from brands like Guinness, John Lewis & Partners, Virgin Atlantic, Nike, and Adidas. Awards ceremonies have featured jurors from Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Clio Awards, D&AD, and representatives from media owners such as The Guardian and Financial Times. Honours recognise lifetime achievement, strategic transformation, and campaign innovation—with winners often moving between agencies including BBDO, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Saatchi & Saatchi and client-side roles at Procter & Gamble and Unilever.
Publications and Research
The organisation commissions white papers and case studies in partnership with research houses like Nielsen, Kantar, YouGov, and consultancies such as Edelman and Accenture Interactive. Its briefings synthesise findings from academic centres at London School of Economics, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Columbia Business School, and MIT Sloan School of Management. Research topics have included digital transformation influenced by Google and Amazon (company), brand purpose debates tied to WWF and Oxfam (GB), and metrics development aligned with standards from International Organization for Standardization.
Partnerships and Influence
Strategic partnerships have been forged with advertising networks like WPP and Publicis Groupe, digital platforms such as Meta Platforms, Inc. and YouTube, and industry events including Advertising Week and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The organisation’s members frequently participate in policy discussions with regulators and standards bodies like Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom), Ofcom, and international trade groups such as World Economic Forum and International Chamber of Commerce. Its alumni and leadership have held board roles at corporations including Unilever, Diageo, British Airways, BT Group and cultural institutions like Tate Modern and British Museum.