Q & A with 2014 Marketer on the Rise Nominee – Aaron Nemoy
The 10th annual Marketing Hall of Legends has presented 5 nominees for the coveted Marketer on the Rise award. This award, now in its 3rd year, recognizes a mid-level marketing leader that has demonstrated exceptional career success and bares the traits of future Marketing Legend. The winner will be selected by the broader marketing community thru online voting – which closed on Friday January 16
The winner will be announced Live at the Marketing Hall of Legends Gala, which closes out FFWD: Advertising Week on January 2015 at The Artifacts Room. Tickets Available Here.
1. Who is Aaron Nemoy?
I was born in Toronto and grew up in Thornhill. At age 10 I started my first venture as a ‘professional’ magician, putting on magic shows for birthday parties (I still have the business cards to prove it). I worked as a commission sales rep at Sport Chek in high school, and during my summers at overnight camp I ran a custom apparel business, coordinating with friends at different camps to sell sweat wear to campers and staff. I went to Western university, and now work at Kraft Foods in Toronto.
Aaron hard at work – age 3
When and why did you decide to become a marketing professional?
Inspired by my dad, a successful entrepreneur himself, I knew at a young age that I wanted to run a business. So I attended the Richard Ivey School of Business, majored in Marketing and earned a certificate in entrepreneurship. I started my career in brand management at Campbell’s to gain general management experience, and under the influence of our team leader Mark Childs, I quickly developed a passion for brand strategy, communications and innovation. As the world of marketing continues to evolve at such a fast pace, I am constantly re-energized and inspired by the profession.
3. What are you most passionate about?
a) In life – First and foremost, I live to spend time with close friends and family. My favourite activities outside of work are filmmaking, drums, cooking, hockey, snowboarding, canoe trips and travel (next on my list – South Africa).
b) In work – I thrive on doing things differently and using my creativity to solve problems or discover new opportunities. I am equally passionate about inspiring and coaching the people I work with.
4. What is your proudest accomplishment in your career to date?
Winning gold in the 2012 Young Marketers competition and subsequently placing bronze in the Cannes Lions event was a personal highlight in my career. At Campbell’s, I spearheaded the company’s cause marketing efforts, which was a truly meaningful and unique experience. In collaboration with a passionate team and many stakeholders, we developed an unconventional product called Nourish (a complete meal in a can) with a self-funding business model, donating all net profits towards hunger relief (winner of 2012 Global SIAL d’Or innovation award for Canada). More recently, I helped lead the Kraft Peanut Butter business to a record year, driven by world-class advertising, innovative merchandising, and new products like Chocolate PB and iconic plush teddy bears – a Kraft-first initiative to monetize the brand beyond food.
5. The Marketer on the Rise award is the highest award given to a Mid Level marketer in Canada. What would this award mean to you?
I feel fortunate and truly honoured just to be named a finalist by the judging panel alongside the other fantastic marketers nominated. The award would be great recognition for my career to date and would motivate me to live up to the title in the future.
Want to meet a Legend?
You can get up close and personal with the newest inductee’s On January 30, 2015, the Marketing Hall of Legends gala will take place at The Artifacts Room, located at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in Toronto. The winner of the Marketer on the Rise award will also be announced at the event that is anticipated as one of Toronto’s most noteworthy social gatherings of the year. Previous inductees have included Lise Watier, Aldo Bensadoun, Bonnie Brooks and Frank Buckley. Tickets are available now at http://www.amamarketinghalloflegends.ca/gala/buy-tickets/.
About the Marketing Hall of Legends
Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends (MHOL) was established in 2004 to enshrine the people, the brands and the stories behind Canada’s great marketers and marketing successes. The MHOL serves as an inspiration and the gold standard to the thousands of Canadians who dedicate themselves to the marketing profession. Title sponsor LoyaltyOne, category sponsor Scotiabank and after-party sponsor TubeMogul join partners Backbone, Cosmic Design, ICA and FFWD Adweek, Limelight, Mandrake, Marketing Magazine, Phanta Media and V&Co Marketing and Communications. For more information, visit http://www.amamarketinghalloflegends.ca/.
