Award recipients stand the test of time

Some of the names that stand out in the hall of fame read like a who's who of South African business leaders. They include Dr Anton Rupert of the Rembrandt Group who was the first award recipient in 1962.

Other illustrious people who have received recognition as Marketer of the Year are Raymond Ackerman of Pick 'n Pay (1970), Donny Gordon of Liberty Life Group in 1978, and Bill Venter of Altron Group in 1977. The Pick 'n Pay name remained high in these awards when the Group's Sean Summers was awarded the coveted recognition in 1999.

Three recipients have been associated at various times with motor manufacturer Toyota. They are Albert Wessels in 1971, Colin Adcock in 1981 and Brand Pretorious in 2000 (who, although associated with McCarthy Holdings at the time of the Award, was previously Managing Director of Toyota Marketing). Volkswagen also featured in 1988 when Peter Searle was Marketer of the year.

The first woman to receive the Award was Velia Kirkpatrick, co-recipient in 1977 with Bill Venter. At the time, she was with the South Africa Foundation.

The Awards have been renamed as the Tusk Awards in celebration of the tusk of an elephant - an animal revered in Africa for its strength, leadership and wisdom.

Commented Davy Ivins, Acting Chief Executive Officer of MFSA: "The success of any enterprise, especially in tough economic times, relies heavily on the strength and wisdom of its marketing effort. It is thus appropriate that the elephant, symbolised by its tusk, represents the MFSA's annual awards."

The South African Broadcasting Corporation is once again sponsoring the Awards. Mark Jakins, SABC Group Sales & Marketing Director, says: "The SABC has developed a valuable partnership with the IMM through our annual sponsorship of the National Marketing Excellence Awards and it is one that we hope to continue with the new MFSA. The Institute of Marketing Management's National Marketing Excellence Awards have served as an industry benchmark since 1962 and will continue to do so as the new MFSA's Tusk Awards in the future. The collective expertise and strength of the unified MFSA will contribute significantly to the furthering of marketing excellence
in South Africa."

Winners will be announced at one of Johannesburg's most prestigious venues, Summerplace, on Friday 1 November 2002. Limited seating is still available for the event. These can be reserved by telephoning Kim at (011) 784-7804.