The Marketing Society Scotland announces new chair

A new chair and vice-chair of The Marketing Society Scotland has been unveiled

The Marketing Society Scotland has announced a new chair and vice-chair following the departure of Rod Gillies, brand director at The Dalmore and Whyte and Mackay, after two years at its helm.

Claire Prentice, head of marketing for Brand Scotland at the Scottish Government, has been named the organisation's new chair. Pete Martin, founder and head of content strategy at marketing agency Always Be Content, joins as vice-chair.

In her Scottish Government role, Ms Prentice brings together the collective communications efforts of key partners in building Scotland’s global nation brand and reputation.

Pete Martin and Claire Prentice have joined The Marketing Society Scotland

She also leads the government's net zero marketing team and is responsible for delivering national marketing activity to tackle climate change as part of the Let’s Do Net Zero brand and communications strategy.

Ms Prentice's previous experience also includes seven years' leading award-winning behaviour change marketing campaigns for the Government across health, road safety and justice, and also has extensive agency experience, having spent five years as account director at Edinburgh-based the Union.

Marketing Society Scotland said Ms Prentice's passion for the power of marketing to do good and support young talent, combined with her drive for promoting Scotland as a great place to study, work and invest, made her a perfect fit for the role.

Ms Prentice said: “I am really delighted to be taking over as the new chair and looking forward to working with the team in Scotland to bring our members another brilliant programme of events, insight, community and conversation in 2024.

“The Star Awards, our flagship event in June, has a very special birthday and we will be celebrating 20 years of promoting the very best of Scotland’s marketing industry – our creativity, our effectiveness, our innovation, our purpose and, of course, our wonderful people.

“The Changemakers Conference will also come to Scotland for the first time in October, which is an exciting new addition to this year’s plans. We are lucky to have such a unique marketing community here in Scotland and in this new role I feel very privileged to play a part in supporting that.”