Staff, both former and current, students and alumni were amongst those present to mark the launch of the Marketing Department's 40th Anniversary Banner, which was unveiled on January 25 at the Stenhouse Building, home to the Marketing Department for the past 40 years.
Professor Susan Hart, Dean of SBS and a past head of the Marketing Department, together with current departmental head, Professor Kevin Ibeh, welcomed guests such as Emeritus Professor Michael Baker, founding head of the Department of Marketing, and Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
The Chartered Institute of Marketing, which marks its centenary in 2011, was represented by Douglas Vinton, Jim Driver and Claire Dunning. There was also representation from the Department's international peers, notably Professor Bodo Schlegelmilch of the Vienna University of Economics and Business, and Professor Brock Smith of the University of Victoria, Canada.
In his welcoming remarks, Professor Ibeh underlined the Anniversary year aims: to celebrate the Department's contributions and proud heritage; to reinvigorate links with alumni, former staff and corporate partners in the UK and internationally; and to recommit the Department to the challenge of sustaining its position as a top international Marketing Department both in European and global terms.
Professor Michael Baker briefly traced the early history of the Department and expressed his delight that the 'labours of heroes past had allowed the modest acorn of 1971 to grow into a 40 year old mighty oak'.
Professor Hart congratulated the Department on its milestone and commended the vision of the Department's founding staff while expressing satisfaction at the Department's continuing success and ambitions.
She went on to unveil the anniversary banner in front of an enthusiastic crowd of about 200. The event also featured the cutting of a customised anniversary cake by a 10 person team reflecting a cross-section of the Marketing department's 'family': Professor Baker, Professor Ibeh, Professor Hart, Mr Vinton (CIM), Keith Crosier (former staff member), Dr Eleanor Shaw (current staff member), Melissa McCrindle (alumna), Mark Silcock (MSc student), Lisa Glen (undergraduate student) and Fatema Kawaf (PhD student).
The final words of the day went to Professor Stan Paliwoda, co-chair of the Marketing 2011 Organising Committee, who thanked everyone for attending and urged their active participation in future anniversary events.