TAC Marketing Manager recognised by peers at national conference

29 Oct 2009

MEDIA RELEASE: 29 October 2009

The Transport Accident Commission’s senior marketing manager has been recognised by his peers with a national award.
John Thompson was named the Certified Practising Marketer (CPM) of the Year at the Australian Marketing Institute‘s Gala Presentation Dinner last night.

The Award recognises the outstanding contributions of CPM members to the industry.

TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore congratulated Mr Thompson and his team, for their passion and drive for educating the community to reduce road trauma.

“The TAC continues to campaign to reduce death and injury on Victoria’s roads – so the message is always the same, we’re just coming from a different angle or targeting different groups,” Ms Dore said.

Mr Thompson has been leading the Transport Accident Commission’s marketing campaigns since 2004 and said the award was the result of great team work.

“It is an honour to be involved with an organisation like the TAC, with a dedicated group of people who each help make the campaigns come to life,” Mr Thompson said.

He said his team, including agencies Grey Melbourne, Sweeney Research and Mitchell and Partners, could all take credit for the award.

“We work in a unique environment for marketing where ideally we want to have no customers,” Mr Thompson said.

“We’re aiming for long term behaviour change and to achieve that we need to have a well developed, evidence-based and accountable campaign,” Mr Thompson said.

The award comes as the TAC prepares to commemorate 20 years of advertising.

“Our public education campaigns combined with the enforcement efforts of Victoria Police and working with our arrive alive partners, have seen the state’s road toll drop by half in the past 20 years,” Mr Thompson said.

“That’s included the emotive advertisements, groundbreaking campaigns like Pictures of You, moving into paid content with initiatives like the Sudden Impact television series and being the first Australian company advertising online in the PlayStation gaming environment.”

“We will continue to find new and innovative ways of getting the road safety message out there,” Mr Thompson said.

For more information contact Emily Bogue on (03) 5225 6450, 0429 416 778.