Canadian Marketing Association names Alan Depencier as chair and elects five new directors

May 29, 2024

TORONTO – May 29, 2024 – At its annual general meeting today, the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) announced that Alan Depencier (Chief Marketing Officer, Personal and Commercial Banking and Insurance, RBC) is the new Chair of the Board, and elected five new senior members as Directors to further diversify the board.

Depencier has held senior marketing roles at RBC for nearly 20 years, including the past seven as Chief Marketing Officer for personal and commercial banking and insurance. Prior to his tenure at RBC, he managed consumer packaged goods brands and spearheaded the growth of a startup venture. Elected to the CMA board in 2019, Depencier has contributed significantly as a member of the CMA's Member Engagement and Human Resource Committees, chaired the Finance and Audit Committee, and served as Board vice-chair before his appointment as chair.

"Marketing is essential to the strategic development and success of organizations," said Depencier. "I am honoured to continue my role with the CMA Board, where we will further develop platforms and benefits that enable marketers across Canada to connect and collaborate effectively. As we progress, I look forward to working with our members to drive our profession forward and ensure that Canadian marketing remains among the most creative and impactful in the world."

In addition to announcing Depencier as Board Chair, five new Directors were elected to the Board, expanding the Board to 16 members and adding a diversity of talent, backgrounds, and expertise across marketing disciplines and corporate functional areas.

New Board members elected at the annual general meeting were:

  • Sophie Deschênes-Hébert, Senior Legal Counsel, TELUS
  • Bilal Jaffery, Senior Partner, Blend360
  • John Peco, Associate Dean, School of Marketing, George Brown College
  • Eva Salem, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Brand, Canadian Tire
  • Evan Wood, Executive Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer, Environics Analytics
    

“We are thrilled to see Alan take on this new role and to have five talented new senior members join our exemplary Board of Directors,” said Alison Simpson, President and CEO, CMA. “Alan's exceptional leadership across the numerous volunteer roles he has held with the CMA make him well suited to step up to the Chair role. Our new Directors are all standout leaders, who expand the diversity and expertise across our Board and bring qualities we seek to harness as we propel our initiatives forward. Alan and our Directors' contributions will be instrumental in shaping the future of our association and enhancing our impact across the Canadian marketing industry.”

Returning Board Directors are as follows:

  • Alan Depencier (Board Chair), Chief Marketing Officer, Personal and Commercial Banking and Insurance, RBC
  • Kerri Dawson (Past Chair), Digital Business and Marketing Executive, RBC (formerly HSBC)
  • Isaac Adejuwon, CEO and Founder, Metricsflow
  • Brent Chaters, Managing Director Marketing Transformation (Canada), Accenture
  • Jeff Greenspoon, Global Practice President for Integrated Solutions and Chief Business Officer, Americas, dentsu
  • Devorah Lithwick, Chief Brand Officer, Bell
  • Amanda Maltby, General Manager Corporate Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Canada Post
  • Nicky Mezo, Vice President Marketing, Everyday and Small Business Banking, TD
  • Meghan Nameth, President & COO, Heads Up
  • Laura Pearce, Head of Marketing, Google Canada
  • Jacquie Ryan, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation, and Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee


About the Canadian Marketing Association 

The CMA is the voice of marketing in Canada and our purpose is to champion marketing’s powerful impact. We are the catalyst to help Canada’s marketers thrive today, while building the marketing mindset and environment of tomorrow.   
 
We provide opportunities for our members from coast to coast to develop professionally, to contribute to marketing thought leadership, to build strong networks, and to strengthen the regulatory climate for business success. Our Chartered Marketer (CM) designation signifies that recipients are highly qualified and up to date with best practices, as reflected in the Canadian Marketing Code of Ethics and Standards. We represent virtually all of Canada's major business sectors, and all marketing disciplines, channels and technologies. Our Consumer Centre helps Canadians better understand their rights and obligations. For more information, visit thecma.ca.   

For further information: 

Nathaniel Glassman  
Kaiser & Partners Inc. 
nathaniel.glassman@kaiserpartners.com 
416-998-2258 





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