The inductees of the 10th annual Marketing Hall of Legends were unveiled today by the Toronto Chapter of the American Marketing Association, and no matter what industry they hail from — banking, consulting and consumer packaged goods being but a few — they all share the distinction of having had a tremendous impact on the marketing industry.
The inductees will be honoured at the annual Marketing Hall of Legends gala ceremony on January 30 — when the remaining inductee, the winner of the Marketer on the Rise award, will be announced.
“While our inductees share a lifetime of accomplishments in the marketing industry in common, their careers have evolved over years and compelling, colourful experiences and achievements,” said Tania Stadnik, chair of Marketing Hall of Legends. “These leaders have continued to evolve and innovate which is what makes them the stuff that legends are made of.”
This year’s inductees are:
Builders (those who have built and enhanced existing brands)
- Chris Armstrong, former member of the office of the chief executive at TD Ameritrade and acting president and CEO, TD Waterhouse USA; co-founder of Life’s Next Steps
- Stephen Graham, former CMO, Maple Leaf Foods; former EVP chief marketing and convergence officer, Rogers Communications
Enablers (communications professionals with a record of excellent brand building and expertise):
- Andy Macaulay, managing partner, Rethink; partner Metapurpose
- Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications and YouInc.com; venture capitalist on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, The Big Decision and marketing expert on Recipe to Riches
- Luc Beauregard, former founding chairman of Res Publica Consulting Group, owner of National Public Relations
Mentor (an individual who has provided others with opportunities in the industry through philanthropy or academic position):
- Syd Kessler, co-founder and principal, Scientific Intelligence; co-founder and executive producer, Rocket Boys; co-founder and principal, Wunderkind; thought leader Brand Voice; author of The Perfect System
Kessler’s lifetime of excellence in the Canadian advertising industry stretches from the 1960s and 1970s, when he started Kessler Productions (later The Air Company) and became the dominant player in the Canadian radio commercial space. Supercorp, his 1988 joint venture with multinational John Labatt, controlled 68% of all advertising production in Canada and 2% of the TV commercial production business in the U.S. through its subsidiaries.
Kessler became a pioneer in developing ways to harness new digital ways to tailor ads when he started the Kessler Group in 1994 and as co-director of KPMG e-commerce practice in 1997. He has invested and mentored new businesses such as Brand Voice , Rocket Boys, Radio Free Canada, Mystery Box Media, Wunderkind, Scientific Intelligence, L’Institut Idée and Niche (Niche).
Inductees were nominated through an online vote and then decided upon by an independent judging panel. Individuals were named in the Visionaries category this year, but are unable to participate for various reasons.
The Marketing Hall of Legends gala will take place Jan. 30 at the Artifacts Room in the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in Toronto.
