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Marketers Association of Zimbabwe says there is need for marketers to claim their rightful positions as market leaders and change the perception of the industry. MAZ executive secretary Mr Gillian Rusike said only marketers could determine the value placed on them in workplaces.
“The perception can be changed first by our marketers as we need to claim our rightful positions. It is upon us to be able to convince the owners of resources that we are capable of managing them and thus we should actively speak the financial language,” he said.
He said more prominence had been given to financial management rather than the means of generating the same funds hence shareholders always wanted someone with a financial background to be in charge of their resources.
“In Zimbabwe, this has culminated in a national culture where someone with a finance background would be highly regarded more than a marketer to lead an organisation. However, most companies in developed countries are headed by people with a marketing background,” he said.
However, he said, the challenge most marketers faced to date was that they were not happy to work with figures thus putting them at a disadvantage.
Mr Rusike said the hosting of the 5th Annual Marketers Convention by MAZ is set to give marketers an opportunity to converge and unlock their marketing prowess.
The convention will run under the theme “Marketing on the Leadership Deck — Discovering endless possibilities” from October 9 to 12 in Mutare.
Mr Rusike said this year’s convention would be different from previous years.
“The major advantage of this year’s convention is that it is focusing on unleashing the leader in a marketer.
“It is a consolidation of the marketing professionals in the corporate world in that as marketers we are able to achieve the best,” he said.
Speakers lined up include consultant and author of marketing books, Mr Don Peppers, African Sun Limited chief executive Dr Shingi Munyeza and Mrs Juliet Ziswa, the brand building and customer marketing director for Unilever Southern Africa .
The convention will be preceded by an executives’ annual marketing forum, The Marketing Powerhouse will be held in Harare on October 9 where Mr Don Peppers will again deliver the keynote address.
Online Reporter