Brand managers in Luxembourg are receiving more recognition than ever before, thanks to a new competition run by Maison Moderne and Markcom. And on 18 January 2024, it drew to a close with the announcement of the winners at Malt Innovative Factory in the Grund.
Across four categories, the country’s top brand managers are:
—Institutional: (City of Luxembourg)
—Retail and hospitality: Stéphanie Schleich (Cocottes)
—Services: (Post Luxembourg)
—Financial sector: Claude Faber (Spuerkeess)
The crown of “Brand Manager of the Year” was additionally awarded to Isabelle Faber.
Of the 511 brand managers shortlisted, in December. The winners were chosen by their peers: shortlisted contenders were eligible to vote (and 185 did so).
Awards ceremony
and André Hesse opened the evening by outlining the genesis of the competition. The awards were then presented on stage by Maison Moderne and Freylinger Office (event partner) in front of 200 attendees who had braved the snow to be there.
Lucie Ferrara and presented the award in the “Institutional” category to , director of communications and PR at the City of Luxembourg, where she has worked for 15 years. In that time, Agustsson has seen the city’s brand evolve and gain the people’s trust. On this occasion, she recalled the challenge that has most thrilled her: managing crisis communications.
In the “Retail and hospitality” category, and Martin Gutwillinger presented the award to Stéphanie Schleich, marketing and communications manager at Cocottes, which she joined three years ago. One of the campaigns she is particularly proud of is the “petits pains seins” (“brea(d)st rolls”) campaign, for its commitment to the Europa Donna coalition (a non-profit devoted to raising awareness of breast cancer).
In the “Services” category, Pierre-Alexis Quirin and awarded the prize to Isabelle Faber, director of communications at Post Luxembourg. Faber also co-founded the Lët’z Arles association, which supports and promotes Luxembourg photographers on the international scene, notably at the Rencontres d’Arles.
And finally, and Eugénie Desmet presented the award in the “Financial sector” category to Claude Faber, team marketing manager at Spuerkeess. With over 20 years’ experience at the Luxembourg bank, Faber has worked on numerous projects including the major rebranding of 2020 and accompanying rollout of the visual identity across all communications media. His advice for brand managers? “In an increasingly digital world, you have to maintain an emotional connection with your customers.”
Finally, and rounding off the evening, came the big announcement: Brand Manager of the Year 2024. Awardee Isabelle Faber took the opportunity to share tips on being a good communicator: “Be curious, open-minded and hard-working.”
See you next year for a new competition.
This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.