Canadas Next Top Ad Exec Announces Grand Prize Winners
TORONTO March 29, 2011 Today, Canadas Next Top Ad Exec (CNTAE) announced its grand-prize winning team and runners-up. The University of Albertas Maya Cieszynska and Michael Holmes took home the first place spot with their outstanding campaign proposal. Teams from McMaster University and the University of Lethbridge placed second and third, respectively.
Finalists from schools across Canada travelled to Toronto to present their original marketing plans and research to the CNTAE judging panel. With Chevrolet as the lead partner, this years competition challenged students to create a comprehensive marketing campaign for the all-new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic small car. CNTAEs top 10 teams faced off in a pitch or perish final presentation to a panel of expert judges from advertising, marketing and communications. Judges evaluated each team by looking at participants overall strategy, creativity and attention to detail.
Submissions this year have been some of the highest quality our judges have ever seen, said Meghan Brennan, co-chair, CNTAE. While each of the top 10 contestants submitted a top-tier entry, the three winning entries displayed a professional level of strategy, creativity, research and feasibility within the $1M budget provided. These entries showed judges that marketing on campuses across Canada can be taken to a new level by using a mix of new and traditional media tools.
Todays announcement was made at CNTAEs Pitch or Perish dinner and gala event at Torontos Thompson Hotel. Each first place winner wins their own Chevrolet Sonic, to be delivered as part of the Canadian launch later this year. Second place finalists received $2,500 Chevrolet scholarships for team members and a Fujifilim gift basket; and third place winners each received $1,000 Chevrolet scholarships and a Fujifilm gift basket.
“This year’s competition has generated energy, excitement, enthusiasm and ideas, and we’d like to congratulate everyone, especially Maya and Michael, for rising to the challenge, said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of General Motors of Canada. “We highly value your fresh look and innovative thinking as we continue to deliver leading small cars, transforming Chevrolet into one of the fastest growing brands in the world.”
As a competition dedicated to experiential education and public/private sector partnerships in business and education, CNTAE also offers internship opportunities for its top 10 teams with sponsoring organizations. PepsiCo., announced their newest intern, Joanna Periversoff from McMaster University. Sponsor Creative Niche Inc. offers all CNTAE competitors the chance to register for internships and work placements through their staffing directory.
Canadas Next Top Ad Exec Finalists
- Maya Cieszynska and Michael Holmes, University of Alberta
- Joanna Periversoff and Patricia Wozniak, McMaster University
- Amanda Miller and Brittany Miller, University of Lethbridge
About Canadas Next Top Ad Exec:
Canadas Next Top Ad Exec is a national business case-study competition based out of McMaster University. 2011 sponsors include Chevrolet, MacClaren McCann, GCI Group, Fujifilm, Cascades, Creative Niche Inc. and PepsiCo. Now in its fifth year, the competition is entirely student-run with the generous support of sponsoring organizations.