Marketing department welcomes industry speakers

The Marketing Department has welcomed a host of speakers in the last few weeks:

• Dr Ewelina Lacka recently welcomed Mr Martin Jordan, Director of Innovation at Equator to her Customer Management class. Equator is a digital media agency based in Glasgow, with offices in London and New York. It is widely regarded as the leading digital media agency in Scotland, and one of the leading top 10 independent agencies in the UK. Equator’s client list includes household names such as Audi, Shell, Disney and Lloyds Bank to name a few.
• Dr Michael Marck welcomed two guest speakers to his Brand Management class. Mr Chris Moriarty, Brand Manager for Drygate Microbrewery, spoke about establishing new brands, while Mrs Laura Vernett from the law firm Harper Macleod, spoke about Business to Business Branding. Laura is a former Strathclyde Marketing graduate and in the past couple years she has hired two marketing honours students. Both companies have established working relationships with the Department of Marketing and continue to support its Honours Programme. Dr Marck invited Professor Judy Chandler from Central Michigan University to be a guest speaker in two classes. The topic, “Donald Trump as a marketing strategist” was presented to the third year Strategic Marketing in an International Context class, and “The Branding of Donald Trump” to the fourth year class, Brand Management and Strategy. Both classes appreciated the application of their learning to the controversial and popular American Presidential candidate.
• Mr Alistair Gronbach, Head of Marketing at Walkers Shortbread Ltd, was guest speaker at Dr Maria Karampela’s Strategic Marketing in an International Context class in March. Prior to Walkers, Alistair - a graduate of the Department - had worked with both global and local renowned firms such as Kraft, Scottish and Newcastle, and Visit Scotland, among others. His presentation focused on Brand Positioning, bringing to students a range of practical examples from his previous experience, as well as working with them on a case study. Students reported that they really enjoyed his presentation and particularly his discussion of how global brands have built up or changed their positioning.
• Mr Thomas McAlinden welcomed Mr Mark Connolly, Managing Director at Marketing Mavens. on March 7, to his class, Consumer Behaviour in a Global Context, and on March 14, Ms Hannah Fisher, Strathclyde graduate and International Marketing Manager at Beam Suntory, spoke to his Consumer Behaviour in a Global Context class.
• Dr Sean Ennis welcomed Mr Michael O’Connor, Marketing Communications Manager for Siemens (UK and Republic of Ireland) to his class, Sports Marketing, on March 3. Mr O’Connor delivered a presentation on the topic of Siemen’s involvement in Sports Sponsorship. On March 10 Ross Curle, Marketing Executive with the Scottish Rugby Union, attended the Sports Marketing class. Mr Curle delivered a presentation on the challenges involved in developing marketing campaigns for Scottish Rugby with particular reference to social media.