Set against the backdrop of a constantly changing and highly regulated environment, the PharmaTimes Marketer of the Year Awards will return to London on the 9th November 2017 to reward the best marketing talent in pharma.
The role of the marketer, like the industry it represents, continues to evolve. With this in mind, PharmaTimes Media and the competition’s executive steering committee have, in consultation with the wider industry, decided to shake the competition up a little ahead of its 25th anniversary in 2018. Sabina Syed, managing director of Visions4Heath and co-chair of the executive steering committee, explains: “Taking advice from pharmaceutical companies on how to evolve the PharmaTimes Marketer of the Year competition, we have refined to four categories with adapted competencies and challenges to ensure the event is truly reflective of today’s practice. We are expecting an exciting competition this year as a result.”
The new categories include Commercial Cross Functional Team of the Year; National Market Access Lead of the Year; New Marketer of the Year (0-3 years) and Marketer of the Year (4 years plus). Not only are these new categories more relevant than ever to previous entrants, they also open the door to individuals who might not have previously regarded Marketer of the Year as the competition for them.
Adam Chapman, head of marketing at Lundbeck, member of the executive steering committee and previous Marketer of the Year winner is keen to underline this point. He says: “Marketing in modern pharma doesn’t exist as an isolated function. The 2017 Marketer of the Year Awards reflects this by addressing the multi-disciplinary nature of our industry with the introduction of new awards to recognise market access excellence – an important part of the marketing journey; and cross functional team working.”
PharmaTimes business director, Gill Chalk, is looking forward to seeing what this year’s contestants have to offer: “The 2017 competition, with its revised categories, criteria and challenges offers a fantastic platform for individuals and teams to show just how forward thinking and dynamic they really are. The deadline for entries is 1 September. I look forward to welcoming the successful candidates to the finals days on the 5th October and 18th October, for individuals and teams respectively.”
Meanwhile, the long running and highly sought after Company of the Year title will be awarded to the company that fields the most points on the final’s day.
Free to enter, the PharmaTimes Marketer of the Year competition is open to marketers in the pharmaceutical industry who are currently promoting or who are from a company which currently promotes prescription only medication. The competition is based around the UK market, so all entrants should have a comprehensive knowledge of the NHS.
Designed to assess and reward the competencies and potential of pharma marketers, the PharmaTimes Marketer of the Year competition identifies and benchmarks marketing talent within pharma organisations against the wider industry.
Whilst other awards schemes measure output retrospectively, the prestigious PharmaTimes Marketer of the Year competition calls on entrants to demonstrate a dynamic combination of knowledge, creativity and strategic thinking in real-time challenges within a protected environment. It’s a unique opportunity for individuals and teams to sharpen their skills and showcase their talents against marketers industry-wide.
Jonathan Dancer, managing director, Redbow Consulting Group has been a member of the steering group committee since 1996. Commenting specifically on the team element, he says: “The Cross Functional Team competition has been running now for almost 20 years – during that time many company teams have done battle in a forum where they bring only their team and their own abilities. The competition is run as a one-day simulation that provides not just a chance to compete, but to build the team and gain valuable feedback from top industry judges. It is always seen as a challenging but fun day.”
For more information on categories, criteria and how the competition works visit www.pharmatimes.com/Marketer
Communications Team of the Year
Healthcare communications continues to evolve and comprises a number of diverse, yet intrinsically linked disciplines, including medical education, PR, policy, public affairs and market access.
Entry to the Communications Team of the Year competition is now open and is priced at just £150 per team. Head of events Gill Chalk says: “Uniquely in the industry, the PharmaTimes Communications Team of the Year competition provides entrants with the opportunity to demonstrate their competencies and skills in front of a judging panel of senior industry marketers and communications specialists.”
Healthcare communications agencies are invited to put forward teams to face the panel in an on-the-day pitch challenge, with finalists judged on their ability to think creatively and quickly as a team, measured against their peers from the wider industry.
The finals day will take place on 12 October in central London. Finalists will benefit from an in-depth feedback report detailing their scores across a number of key communications competencies, as well as qualitative feedback from judges. They will also be invited to the awards ceremony where their success will be celebrated alongside other industry leaders.
The ceremony, to be held on 9th November, also coincides with the presentation of the PharmaTimes Marketer of the Year Awards 2017.
For more information visit www.pharmatimes.com/CTOY
Key Dates
Entry Opens: 22 May
Entry Closes: 1 September
Finals day – Singles: 5 October
Finals day – Communications Team: 12 October
Finals day – Cross – Functional Team: 18 October
Gala Awards & Dinner: 9 November
