Mr Alhassan Andani, the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana, emerged the Marketing Man of the year 2014 at the 26th Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Awards held in Accra.

Mrs Lucy Quist, Managing Director, Airtel Ghana Limited, was adjudged the Marketing Woman, 2014 while Mrs Linda Larbie, Head of Marketing for Coca-Cola Equatorial Ghana Limited became Marketing Practitioner for the year.

The ceremony was on the theme: “The Future of Marketing- Evolve or Die.”

Mr Andani, in his acceptance speech on behalf of the 37 award winners thanked the organisers and organisations for their support, describing the award as a mark of hard work.

He said the theme was critical considering the digital age for marketing professionals and firms, in developing strategic innovations to meet the global emerging trends in marketing.

Mr Andani said it is imperative to keep the marketing flag flying since it is one of the ways companies survive to deliver effective and efficient goods and services.

“We will lead a very adaptable marketing campaign and lead the charge for innovation to ensure that we can position our companies and country to great prosperity,” he added.

Dr Sola Safo-Doudu, National President of CIMG said the essence of the marketing performance awards scheme is to use the rewards to improve the professional capabilities of members and non-members and help build a sound and economic environment for the country.

She said the economic challenges facing the country seem to be eroding much of the effort individuals and corporate organisations have put into building a strong and robust business environment in the country.

“Our professional and informal training looks at these challenges as opportunities to drive innovation and provide out-of-the-box solutions to ensure that customers’ needs are met and that business is sustained in a profitable manner,” she added.

She said the theme was chosen to encourage practitioners and industry players to increase their effort in researching the current needs of customers, be innovative and embrace current and best practices for the institute to grow.

Dr Safo-Doudo noted that as part of the institute’s innovative drive, it has introduced two new awards-the e-commerce organisation of the year and the emerging digital media organisation.

Nana Osei Drakwa III, President of the Ghana Technology University College said marketing is about the customer and without the consumer, there would be no marketing.

He said the digital age has revolutionised marketing, increasing its complexity as well as creating the opportunity to improve customer experiences and that to remain competitive, it is critical for businesses to use digital insights to direct and influence customer interactions.