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BRAND STRATEGY

Pharma giant on plans to ‘future-proof’ and ‘humanise’ its brands

By our News Team | 2021

Global CMO for GlaxoSmithKline gives details of the way the company nurtures its brands in order to be more ‘human.

GlaxoSmithKline, the multinational pharmaceutical company, says is it on a mission to break down silos within its organisation. To achieve this, it is using a central cross-functional team to ensure its brands remain ‘future-proof’ and connected to the business’s core purpose.

The company’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, Tamara Rogers, gave details during a recent presentation to the Institute for Real Growth, a Dutch-based non-profit consultancy that promotes the concept of ‘humanised growth’. 

According to Rogers, brands within the GSK portfolio collaborate in an effort to deliver marketing messages that are ‘with humanity’ rather than ‘for humanity’.

“We have an internal agency team with real marketing experts that work with our brand teams whenever they want to do a refresh in ‘brand heart’,” she explained.

Brand Strategy

Photo by Ian Wilson via Wikipedia

We are continually future-proofing brands

“When we want to modernise them, that team comes in, works with the brand team and helps make sure we’re continually future-proofing our brands. We’re very excited about this opportunity to infuse humanity into the brands and into the teams.”

Rogers noted that the CMO role within the company had expanded over the years into one that assisted in “joining dots and pulling teams together”, as there were traditionally too many silos within the business.

“Now it’s about collaborative teams, agile working, bringing in the right ingredients into the team at the moment that you need them. And so we’re now trying to think about how we can break down some of the silos and get the teams working together.”

She added: “We’re thinking more about how we are designing the experiences that a consumer has along their health journey, and where we then make sure we’re doubling down so that health journey helps them get to a better outcome.” 

“But it requires this cross-functional group to really come together, because experience is everything. From flipping open the cap of Voltaren and how you apply it, all the way through to buying it in-store and experiencing content online from Voltaren’s at-home exercise programme.”

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Dr Kin Kariisa

Group CEO - Next Media

Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

  • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
  • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
  • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
  • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.