Search is on for South Africa's marketing and supply chain superstars

The awards are the culmination of the association’s conference taking place in Johannesburg on 17 October 2024. 

“At this annual event we will be celebrating those who have made a laudable contribution to both the marketing and supply chain sectors,” says Irene Gregory, CEO of the IMM Institute. 

There are nine categories of awards, and three candidates are shortlisted for each award. Nominations close on 21 August and the deadline for submission of supporting papers is 15 September 2024.  

Categories include Marketer of the Year and Supply Chain Professional of the Year, which celebrate individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their fields. Another category is for the Emerging Marketer of the Year, for rising stars who have shown exceptional promise and potential. 

The Marketing and Supply Chain Student of the Year awards acknowledge the outstanding achievements of students who are the future of both industries, while the Corporate Teams of the Year honour the collaborative efforts of high-performing teams respectively in marketing or supply chain within a corporation. 

New entrepreneurial category launched for 2024 

A new category being launched in 2024 is the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which will recognise an individual who has demonstrated exceptional innovation, leadership and impact in their industry, driving significant business growth and contributing positively to their community. 

Of particular importance is the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023, former automotive industry marketer and CEO, Brand Pretorius, was the recipient for his outstanding contributions to the field of marketing. He played a pivotal role in making Toyota SA a market leader and later became Chief Executive of McCarthy Limited, a leading motor retail group in the country. 

“We look forward to rewarding those who have made a meaningful impact on the economy by ensuring that products are available to meet demand,” emphasises Gregory. 

“We encourage everyone in each of these sectors to nominate their colleagues so we can honour those individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to both the marketing and supply chain industries in terms of best practices in this strategic focus area for businesses. 

“By nominating your colleagues or teams, you not only acknowledge their outstanding work, but also inspire others in the industry to strive for excellence.”  

The awards evening follows the annual IMM Institute conference being held at the IMM Graduate School Campus in Parktown under the theme of ‘Fusion of Functions’.  This will focus on how marketing functions can integrate with supply chain to benefit brands and stakeholders. 

You can find out more about the 2024 IMM Conference and IMM Excellence Awards here.