Marketing body honours the best
The Institute of Direct Marketing has awarded its highest accolades to three direct and digital marketing luminaries.
George Smith, founder and former Chief Executive of pioneer agency Smith Bundy, became the third direct marketer ever to honoured with an IDM Lifetime Achievement award. COI’s Marc Michaels and digital marketing guru, Dr Dave Chaffey were awarded IDM Honorary Life Fellowships.
While IDM Honorary Fellowships are awarded each year, the IDM Lifetime Achievement award is reserved for truly special individuals and only when the Institute feels it appropriate. In a career that spanned over 40 years, George Smith pioneered many of the direct marketing techniques now taken for granted and is acknowledged as a world expert on fundraising in particular.
Making the announcement of the award at the annual awards, IDM Managing Director, Derek Holder said:“George is one of direct marketing’s legends. I and many others have been privileged to have been mentored and inspired by him. Not only does he have an immense knowledge of the subject, but he is an outstanding ambassador for the profession. His oratory skills are legendary.”
IDM Honorary Fellowships are awarded annually for exceptional service to the direct and digital marketing profession. Presenting the award to Marc Michaels, IDM President Terry Hunt said that since Michaels’ appointment to the COI as Director of Direct and Relationship Marketing, he has been a “champion of direct marketing for almost 25 years.”
Michaels is extremely active in the direct and digital marketing profession, contributing regularly to the trade press, judging industry awards and having major input into the activities of industry bodies like the IDM and ISBA.
Of fellow award recipient, Dave Chaffey, Terry Hunt said:
“Dave’s prolific digital knowledge is as unparalleled as his passion to share it – whether via his consulting business, as a best-selling author, a university and IDM lecturer, or via the myriad digital channels where he is active daily.”
Last year, recipients of an IDM Honorary Fellowship included TMW Managing Director, Chris Warren and Managing Partner of Kitkatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, Marc Nohr. The IDM Lifetime Achievement award has only been presented on two other occasions. On the Institute’s 20th anniversary in 2006, it was awarded to John Watson Hon F IDM and in 2009 was awarded posthumously to former IDM Trust Chair, Barrie Spelling.