VANOC'S JOHN FURLONG CANADA'S MARKETER OF THE YEAR

TORONTO, Nov. 29 /CNW/ - Prominent Canadian business executive John Furlong -- leader of the VANOC team that staged what many have cited as the most successful Winter Olympics -- has been named Canada's Marketer of the Year by the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA). 

The award was presented at the CMA Awards Gala on Friday, November 26, 2010 in Toronto.

"John Furlong's remarkable ten-year journey building, promoting and executing the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games changed our nation, galvanized Canadians from coast to coast and showcased Canada to the world.  As such, it will serve as a successful marketing model for many years to come," said CMA President and Chief Executive Officer John Gustavson.

Under Furlong's leadership, the traditional Olympics' sponsorship marketing model was shelved and a new approach introduced that resulted in, among other things, a record $760 million in domestic sponsorship revenue and 90 per cent of Games' operations being funded by the private sector, generated in the middle of a global economic crisis.

The CMA Awards Gala is the largest marketing awards event in Canada.  A full list of CMA Award winners can be found on the CMA website (www.the-cma.org/awards/winners).

The Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) embraces Canada's major business sectors and all marketing disciplines, channels and technologies.  CMA is the marketing community's leading advocate on the key public policy issues affecting both consumer and business-to-business marketers.  As well, CMA is the principal provider of knowledge, marketing intelligence and professional development opportunities for marketers; and catalyst for networking and business opportunities within the marketing community.

For further information:

Ed Cartwright, Senior Director, Communications
Tel: [phone]; email: [email protected]