TAXI DELIVERS KNOCKOUT PUNCH - Strategy

aoy judges
STRATEGIC PANEL
Rob Assimakopoulos
SVP marketing and commercial
assets, Canadian Football
League, Toronto
Rob is responsible for defi ning
brand positioning and creating
and executing new marketing initiatives, as well
as driving sustained growth across the CFL’s
licensing business, partnerships, sales and
broadcast/digital media assets. Before he joined
the CFL as VP marketing in 2007, he worked at
Ford Canada as a fi nancial analyst, led marketing
strategy and innovation for the global fabric
care business at P&G Canada and spearheaded
the Canadian brand relaunch at Molson as VP
marketing innovation in 2004.
Sloan Dinning
Former director of brand and
marketing communications,
Vancity, Vancouver
Sloan spent the first 12 years
of his career at some of
Canada’s leading advertising agencies in both
above- and below-the-line communication
disciplines. In 2004, he joined Vancity, Canada’s
largest credit union, where he oversaw brand
management and marketing communications.
He left Vancity in September to relocate to
Sydney, Australia.
Genevieve Dion
Director, communications
and public affairs, Bombardier
Transportation North America,
Saint-Bruno, Que.
In 2006 Genevieve joined
Bombardier Transportation, where she developed a
communication campaign about the environmental
benefi ts of trains and Bombardier rail solutions,
theclimateisrightfortrains.com. Genevieve has
close to 20 years of experience in corporate
communications, public relations, public affairs and
marketing communications, and has worked for
Louis Garneau Sports, Saputo and Bombardier’s
recreational product sector (BRP).
62 STRATEGY November 2008
Tony Matta
VP marketing, Frito Lay Canada,
Mississauga, Ont.
During his 11 years in
marketing at both Frito Lay
Canada and previously at
Procter & Gamble, Tony has managed some of
Canada’s most prominent consumer brands,
including Doritos, Tostitos, Fritos, Tide, Downy and
Cascade. He's held several marketing leadership
positions in the consumer packaged goods
industry, both in Canada and abroad, and most
recently returned from the U.K., where he led the
Walkers business for PepsiCo International.
John Owens
Head of marketing, ING Direct
USA, Wilmington, DE.
John joined ING Direct in 2001,
and held various marketing and
sales positions before entering
his current role as head of marketing two years ago.
His prior work experience included a stint in sales
with Coca-Cola’s Fountain division, and marketing
roles with Johnson & Johnson, Mattel and Vlasic
Foods International, where he worked on brands
such as Pepcid AC, Motrin, Matchbox Toys and
Vlasic Pickles.
Catherine Riggins
Director, marketing
communications, sponsorships
and brand, Canada Post, Ottawa
Since joining Canada Post
seven years ago, Catherine has
grown her team profi le from managing advertising
and promotions to include responsibility for brand
development and strategy, marketing PR and
sponsorship leveraging. Currently she is focused
on delivering both business results and employee
engagement via the corporation’s Olympic
sponsorship. Her background includes several
years with Corel Corporation, and time as an
account director at McGill Buckley, a small Ottawa
advertising agency.
www.strategymag.com
CREATIVE
PANEL
Patrick Doyle
Creative director, Trigger,
Calgary
Patrick headed west to
join Trigger in Calgary
in 2005. Prior to that
he spent 16 years in Toronto, working as a
freelance writer and on staff at Leo Burnett,
Chiat/Day, Taxi and Cossette. Some of the
well-known brands Patrick has worked on
include Bell, Powerade, Hallmark, Trimark
and Visa. His work has received recognition
at Cannes, D&AD, the One Show and from
his mom.
Donna McCarthy
Creative director, Dory
Advertising, St. John’s
After having worked at
Taxi, FCB, Y&R and other
Toronto agencies, Donna
launched Dory Advertising in St. John’s
in 2002, and the Halifax offi ce of Dory in
2007. Donna has been named top female
copywriter in Canada four times, and has
also ranked as one of Canada’s Top Creative
Directors. She has won hundreds of awards,
including One Show Pencils, Cannes Lions
and Marketing Golds. She has been a judge at
Cannes, New York Festival, The Clios, London
International and Marketing.