Malaysia has emerged the winner of a five-cornered bid to become the host of the world’s leading marketing event, the World Marketing Summit (WMS) 2013. This was announced at the Press Conference this morning witnessed by Dato’ Dr Adham Baba, Chairman of UniKL; Dr Marceline Lemarié , CEO Katchi Group; Mr Harmandar Singh, President IAA (Malaysia Chapter); Dato’ Sharifah Mohd Ismail, President IMM; Dr Fahim Kibria, CMO World Marketing Summit Group (Canada) among others.

The WMS aims to create a global alliance, a collaboration that unites the best minds from the corporate sphere working in concert with the public sector to transform and translate marketing ideas and solutions into tackling real and focused socio-economic issues.
The aim and unique vision of the WMS are to elevate marketing from a corporate tool to a social equalizer that will deliver through a global stratagem, its promise of: “Creating a Better World through Marketing".

World-renowned guru and a name synonymous with global marketing principles, Professor of the Kellogg School of Management Dr. Philip Kotler congratulated Malaysia for seeing beyond the Summit – in a bid that encompassed vision and a long-term strategy to connect Asia with the world.
Prof. Kotler who was represented by Dr Fahim Kibria, the World Marketing Summit Group (Canada) CMO, in outlining the Malaysian proposition said: “The bid to host WMS 2013 has been both intense and exciting with five dynamic nations vying for the honor. India, Qatar, China, Mauritius and Malaysia each presented exciting bids but one stood out for its vision and long-term commitment – seeing beyond 2013 even.   

WMS, he explained has a unique DNA: “We create a nexus for like-minded partners to meet, discuss and identify key issues facing the world which may be impacted by marketers pooling our resources, knowledge and energy. The pilot project’s success is replicated across the globe. Every endeavor is a true global initiative – living up to our corporate credo to create a Better World Through Marketing.

He said these initiatives are underpinned by the eight key focus areas identified under the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals – marketing solutions driven by social consciousness.

Dr. Fahim R. Kibria added, “the significant difference from other international summits is that we create incubators where certain identified issues become pilot projects that we focus on – pooling the best minds and available technology. At the incubators, we infuse an innovative and out-of-the-box approach driven by a holistic marketing perspective that is centered on inspiring change in human behaviour.”
Malaysia’s bid led by Katchi Group CEO Dr. Marceline Lemarié explained: “It gives me great pride as a French national and a guest in this amazing country to represent my adopted home – Malaysia, in winning the bid to become the host of the iconic global marketing event: World Marketing Summit (WMS) 2013.

“It is this vision, this commitment to improving lives through innovation and out-of-the-box perspectives that we at Katchi, and our partners in the WMS 2013 bid find both challenging and meaningful.”

Revealing the secret of their winning bid, Dr. Marceline shared: “The heart of the Malaysian bid is one based on establishing an Asian hub – not simply hosting the WMS 2013 but to create a powerful Asian marketing network with Malaysia, as its nerve centre.”
Both Prof. Kotler and Dr. Marceline hope that corporations and organizations that believe in social values and are committed to making a real difference in improving the quality of life will answer their call to support this noble international initiative.
WMS 2013 will see this vision come alive with the world’s leading entrepreneurs, corporations, NGOs’ and public sector agencies joining over 2,500 delegates representing all the continents and key markets.

Katchi Group Sdn Bhd (KGSB) in collaboration with the International Advertising Association (Malaysia Chapter) and the Institute of Marketing Malaysia (IMM) put together the bid for the World Marketing Summit 2013.