Premiere Awards

Catherine Roche
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer,
BMO Financial Group

Extended Biography:

As Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for BMO Financial Group, Catherine Roche leads the development and execution of strategies that elevate and advance the bank’s brand and reputation, acquire customers and deepen relationships through loyalty, and position BMO’s external voice in the marketplace, while aligning organizational purpose with community impact.

Prior to joining BMO, Catherine spent 20 years working with the Boston Consulting Group

(BCG) as Partner and Managing Director. She founded and led BCG’s global Center for Consumer and Customer Insight ― a functional area of expertise on customer experience and knowledge that crosses all sectors. Catherine is a published expert in fields such as consumer analytics, data and customer experience.

In 2025, Catherine was nominated to Campaign Canada’s Hard Power 20 list. In 2023, Catherine was recognized in Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners list by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) for a second time, the first time being in 2018. In 2021, Catherine was recognized as Marketer of the Year by Strategy Online magazine.

Catherine is a member of Marketing 50, a peer-to-peer organization for the world's top marketing leaders. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

Catherine holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Memorial University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar and graduated with distinction "

Sandra Sanderson
Chief Marketing Officer,
Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc.

 

Extended Biography

Sandra Sanderson is one of Canada’s most accomplished marketing leaders. Her career is defined by visionary leadership, brand-building excellence, and a deep commitment to advancing the marketing profession in Canada.

As Chief Marketing Officer at Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., Sandra spearheads marketing across a large portfolio of banners including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Thrifty Foods, Foodland, FreshCo, Lawtons and more. She oversees brand strategy, the Scene+ loyalty program, marketing technology, retail media, sponsorships, corporate citizenship, and Atelier-Empire’s in-house agency.

Sandra has led marketing for iconic brands across a wide range of industries. She began her career in consumer-packaged goods with P&G, Kraft, and Coca-Cola, before expanding her expertise as General Manager of Brand Marketing at Canada Post and Senior Vice-President of Marketing at Universal Studios. Her career path eventually led her to retail, where she held

leadership roles as Senior Vice-President of Marketing at Shoppers Drug Mart, Chief Marketing & Quality Officer at Walmart Canada, and Senior Vice-President of Marketing at White House Black Market in the U.S

Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including induction into the AMA Marketing Hall of Legends in 2023 and recognition as the Canadian Marketing Association’s Marketer of the Year in 2020. Sandra was also named Strategy’s Marketer of the Year twice—first in 2012 for her work at Shoppers Drug Mart, and again in 2021 for her marketing leadership at Empire. In 2015, she received the Star Women in Grocery Award for her contributions at Walmart.

Sandra currently serves on the Board of Directors for Scene+ and Special Olympics, reflecting her commitment to both business innovation and community impact. She previously served on the Board of Directors for Tiary, an online jewelry start-up.

Throughout her career, Sandra has made a meaningful investment in giving back to the marketing community. She served on the Canadian Marketing Association’s (CMA) Board of Directors, including as Vice-Chair, and was Chair of the Retail Council of Canada’s Senior Retail Marketing Committee. She has also contributed her expertise as a member of the Advisory Boards for the Shopper Marketing Forum and Dx3. A respected voice in the industry, Sandra is a frequent conference speaker, awards judge, mentor through the AMA Mentor Exchange Program, and guest lecturer at Ivey.

Lindsay Chase
Senior Strategist,
Elemental

 

Extended Biography

Lindsay Chase is a distinguished Canadian strategist and marketer whose creativity, insight, and leadership have helped shape some of the country’s most recognized brands. Known for her ability to unite strategic vision with human storytelling, Lindsay’s work has spanned nearly every major sector — including CPG, financial services, retail, technology, and non-profit — driving growth, purpose, and connection across every brand she touches.

As a Senior Strategist at Elemental, one of Canada’s growing independent creative agencies, Lindsay plays a pivotal role in guiding brand and communications strategy for national clients. Her approach blends data-driven insight with emotional intelligence, ensuring campaigns are grounded in strategy yet crafted to inspire, connect, and endure. She combines her MBA training with hands-on marketing experience to bridge creativity and commerce — shaping ideas that move both people and performance.

Beyond her client-facing work, Lindsay is a key internal leader and collaborator within Elemental. She works closely with creative, media, and strategy teams to drive integration across disciplines, ensuring each campaign delivers a unified story from brief to execution. Lindsay regularly leads agency brainstorms and workshops, helping teams

translate client challenges into breakthrough creative platforms. Her strategic thinking and collaborative energy have made her a trusted voice in shaping both agency culture and creative standards.

Lindsay also plays a critical role in new business development, helping Elemental secure and expand major national accounts. From strategic positioning and pitch development to presentation leadership, she is instrumental in crafting the agency’s narrative and demonstrating its ability to deliver measurable results.

With her strategic insight, creative conviction, and commitment to elevating both people and ideas, Lindsay Chase continues to make a lasting impact on Canada’s marketing landscape — shaping brands, inspiring teams, and helping redefine what meaningful, modern marketing looks like.

Professional Accomplishments:

Lindsay’s strategic and creative influence can be seen in a wide range of campaigns that have not only won awards (CMA, Marketing, Telly etc.) but have delivered meaningful results for clients and consumers alike.

Lindsay is also an active member of the Canadian Marketing Association’s Creative Council, contributing to national conversations around creative excellence, innovation, and the evolving role of marketers in Canada’s economy. She is recognized for her collaborative leadership style, entrepreneurial mindset, and commitment to mentorship, helping to elevate both emerging talent and the industry at large.

As a proud alumna of the AMA Toronto Mentor Exchange Program, Lindsay learned firsthand the value of mentorship in shaping leadership and strategic growth. The

program’s collaborative environment and focus on personal development deepened her commitment to continuous learning — a value she carries forward by actively engaging with peers, seeking new insights, and remaining curious about the changing landscape of marketing.

Now, as a mentor, Lindsay invests deeply in the growth of emerging strategists and account talent, fostering an environment of curiosity and collaboration. Her leadership style reflects her belief that the strongest ideas emerge when diverse perspectives are encouraged, creativity is nurtured, and strategic clarity guides every decision.