CIM Calls For Licence To Practice Marketing
The Chartered Institute of Marketing has announced several new additions to its board of trustees, claiming it will put the institute at the “heart of marketing” and calling for an increased focus on the skills of marketers with the introduction of a licence to practice the profession.
Addressing members at the annual meeting Paul Gostick, international chairman said that one of the CIM’s key objectives in 2005 would be to begin the journey of moving a licence to practice for the marketing profession. Mr Gostick pointed out that legislation affecting marketers had greatly increased, and that because of this businesses needed to employ marketing professionals with the necessary skills to do their job.
Dianne Thompson, CIM’s outgoing president and chief executive of Camelot, Diane Thompson, agreed with Mr Gostick and said: “The debate about what is acceptable for marketers to do or not do will not be decided in the marketing department or indeed the boardroom, it will be decided in the living room and in the Houses of Parliament.” She suggested that: “With a regulated and licensed profession, it will be easier for true professionals to distance themselves from the unscrupulous cowboy.”
The board announced six newly elected trustees at the CIM’s annual general meeting last week, enrolling Dr John Ensor, Dr Lisa Harris, Professor Phil Harris, Dr Brian Smith, Professor Laurie Wood and Janet Wood-Farrer.
A further six trustees, John Flynn, Paul Gostick, Dr Uditha Liyanage, Peter Standing, Hugh West and Professor Steve Worthington will remain on the board for the rest of their two year term.
The board also decided at their annual meeting that the CIM would endorse the Charity Commission’s decision to remove CIM from the register of charities.
Earlier this year saw the CIM in an up-beat mood, with the release of the latest Marketing Trends survey indicating a rise in advertising sales of 8.5% over the coming year. According to the survey of more than 100 leading media professionals, marketers are confident they can achieve ambitious sales targets despite predictions of an economic slowdown over the next few months (see UK Marketers Up-Beat As Sales Continue To Rise).
Chartered Institute of Marketing: 01628 427 500 www.cim.co.uk
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