Why vote for Fennell?
Having shown grace and strength under pressure, he is now reaping the rewards of a marketing restructure that included a shift from individual brands to categories. A focus on digital, including a high-profile partnership with Facebook, has also helped ensure Diageo remains on the front-foot when it comes to innovation. A fantastic brand guardian, during his career at Diageo Fennell helped double the turnover of the Smirnoff vodka and rum portfolios in three years. In a tough market, he has rejuvenated his brands and continued to invest in marketing.

Why vote for Williams?
With a long-term vision to change the face of the company, she has driven innovation across the business. A marketer who excels both at internal and external communications, Williams has engaged BT’s 100,000-strong workforce in its ‘Difference is you’ programme, which has delivered a consistent tone of voice across the business. With a brief that encompasses brand development, internal brand engagement, marketing and commercial innovation, media and sponsorship, Williams knows her business, and marketing, inside-out. A true expert.

Why vote for Weed?
The high-profile marketer has been responsible for a step change in the marketing of the Unilever brand. While rivals have focused on slashing costs, Unilever has supported its core brands, as well as highlighting Unilever itself as a consumer-facing brand to engender trust. When so many brands are sacrificing brand equity in favour of short-term profits, this strategy is to be applauded.

Why vote for Speake?
A rising star, she has climbed the ranks at Google at a pivotal time for marketing within the business. From appointing Adam & Eve to create ‘Tom’, an emotional ad campaign to promote Google+, to its investment in Think Quarterly magazine, Google has put marketing at the heart of its continued innovation drive. Known for her innate understanding of the media business, Speake’s record includes stints at Carat and VNU Global Media, demonstrating that she is innovative and strategic in equal measure.

Why vote for Nugent?
It has been an exhilarating 12 months for him. Describing the Olympic Games as not a brand in the traditional sense, but rather a ‘movement that is never satisfied and always moving forward’, the former Eurostar marketer has propelled the brand onward since his appointment in 2009. On a limited budget and using Olympic sponsor services, Nugent has managed many London 2012 campaigns including drives for volunteers, the torch relay and the Cultural Olympiad.

Why vote for Mateschitz?
Not content with cracking the beverage market, he has also been instrumental in the success of the Red Bull Formula One motor racing team over the past 12 months. He is making inroads into the media world, too, with a burgeoning film, TV and magazines operation and plans to make Red Bull a leading content provider. The Austrian, who rarely gives interviews, has a 49% stake in the privately owned company, marketing it to young people through its constantly evolving association with extreme sports.

Why vote for Langan?
Langan has, in a short time, transformed a respected business into a powerful consumer franchise in an overcrowded market. He has installed strong values and culture across the business with marketing at the heart. The brand continued to grow its footprint during the past 12 months with sponsorship of programmes on Channel 4 and investment in outdoor advertising.

Why vote for Hodgson?
It has been a fantastic 12 months for Hodgson. The supermarket enjoyed a cracking Christmas (total sales including fuel rose 5.6% in the six weeks to 1 January), and was quick to adapt to consumers stocking up on their festive foods earlier than usual. Morrisons also branched out into festivals with the launch of MFest, which will take place this July, an initiative being overseen directly by Hodgson.

Why vote for Gilbert?
A marketer of some intellect, he has ushered in a fresh creative direction, the result being a series of humorous ads starring athlete Usain Bolt, actor David Tennant and Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson, under the strapline ‘Keep up’. Gilbert is also forging ahead with plans to make ‘super-fast broadband’ available to 13m homes across the UK. In addition, the brand has vowed to bring wi-fi and mobile internet services to London Underground passengers in time for the Olympics.

Why vote for Edwards?
Last September’s launch of the Range Rover Evoque has been key to a major success story. Land Rover’s commitment to NPD places the marque in pole position to capitalise on the growing importance of emerging markets to the automotive industry.