The Marketing Society Scotland Fellowships announced

In my mid-twenties I took a massive career swerve, moving from the law into advertising and marketing. I’ve never regretted it.

Now, having worked in marketing for over 40 years in both London and Edinburgh, I have the same enthusiasm for our industry that I had on my first day, when I turned up for work, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, at Saatchi & Saatchi in London. My passion is fed by the variety, creativity and innovation of what we do. Plus, the stimulation of working with such talented people.

The Marketing Society Scotland has always been close to my heart. It plays a pivotal role for marketers across Scotland, uniting our community and championing the value of our craft. By recognising and celebrating the contributions of leading marketers, the Society highlights the importance of our profession within the wider business world. At the same time, it provides a nurturing environment for young talent to network, develop, and grow.

We recently announced our very own New Year’s Honours list of Fellows and Honorary Fellows.

This is our way of recognising individuals who have made a demonstrable impact in furthering our vision of building a vibrant marketing community renowned for enlightened thinking, innovation and creativity.

The Marketing Society Fellows

Barry Fearn – Founder and Managing Director of Lane Media

Barry founded Lane Media in 2016, establishing an innovative independent media agency that has earned numerous Marketing Society Star Awards. Last year, Lane was recognised as Agency Employer Brand of the Year and achieved B Corp status. Barry launched the Leading Conversations podcast in 2022, in association with The Marketing Society, featuring over 30 interviews with marketing and business leaders.

Alison Gibb – Deputy Director – University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School

Alison began her career at Baxters before moving into senior marketing roles at Morrison Bowmore and Distell. In 2016, she transitioned into academia, where she played a key role in establishing one of Scotland’s leading student marketing societies at the University of Glasgow.

Vicki Miller – Chief Executive at VisitScotland

Last year Vicki was promoted from Director of Marketing & Digital to Chief Executive at VisitScotland having started her career in tourism and marketing in Dumfries & Galloway.

Vicki works closely with The Scottish Government, Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise and Universities Scotland to drive international growth through the development of Brand Scotland.

Richard Simpson – Joint Managing Director at Tayburn

Richard started his career in design and brand consultancy at Elmwood before joining Tayburn in 2008. As Joint MD, he helped create the Future Leaders Advisory Group, fostering a thriving community of ambitious marketing professionals. Tayburn’s acquisition by Lewis in 2024 led to the creation of the Limitless Innovation Group.

The Marketing Society Honorary Fellows

Honorary Fellowships recognise leading figures in their fields who have made a significant contribution to the marketing community as allies and advocates:

Marie Owen – Founder and CEO of LS Productions

Marie founded LS Productions in 2006, showcasing Scotland as a premier location for global television, commercials, music videos, and photographic shoots. Based in Leith, with hubs in London, Manchester, and Malta, LS Productions has worked with brands such as Aston Martin, HBO, Netflix, and Ralph Lauren, as well as A-list celebrities like Meryl Streep, David Beckham, Ronaldo and Harry Styles.

George Shepherd – Programme Leader at Edinburgh Napier University

With over 35 years of experience in advertising, George has worked with agencies including BBH, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Leo Burnett, as well as on projects with BBC, Nike, and Lego. Since joining Edinburgh Napier University in 2019, he has played a key role in developing the MSc Creative Advertising degree course, helping students secure vital industry experience and employment.

Congratulations and welcome to all our new Fellows. I know they, and our thriving group of 50 Fellows, will continue to champion our industry and remain an inspiration to our marketing community here in Scotland.