McDan CEO adjudged Marketing Man, 2017

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McDan Group of Companies, a business conglomerate, Dr Daniel McKorley, has been adjudged the Marketing Man of the year 2017, with a pledge from him to establish 20 small-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

At the 29th National Marketing Performance Awards held by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) in Accra last Saturday, Dr McKorley was decorated with the highest award of the year, following his trailblazing exploits on the business front both locally and on the international stage.

It was a moment of joy for the enterprising entrepreneur as the gathering of captains of industry gave him a standing ovation when he walked up the stage to be decorated.

For his prize, he walked home with a juicy package that included a gold card for electronic payment, GH¢200,000 insurance package from GLICO and GH¢6000 worth of fuel from Ghana Oil Limited (GOIL).

The ceremony was also attended by key figures, including the Akwamuhene, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, and other chiefs from the area and the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ziblim Iddi.

It was held on the theme “Marketing: a catalyst for driving Ghana beyond aid”.

Other awardees

At the same event, 39 other businesses, individuals and organisations that excelled in various fields of human endeavour, received awards.

The Managing Director of Internet Solutions, Ms Yvette Atekpe, emerged as the Marketing woman of the year, while Marketing Practitioner of the Year went to Mr David Afflu, the Business Unit Director of PZ Cussons.

In the Hall of Fame category, Toyota Ghana Limited was adjudged the motor firm of the year with Melcom taking home the retail outlet of the year.

Vanguard Assurance and Enterprise Insurance also won prizes for the non-life insurance company of the year each, while GOIL picked up the petroleum company of the year for the third successive year.

Media coalition

The efforts of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, an initiative to wage a relentless war on illegal mining by pricking the conscience of duty bearers to act to stop the menace, was recognised at the CIMG awards night.

The coalition was presented with a special award by the CIMG National President, Mr Kojo Mattah, in recognition of the pivotal role it played in fighting the menace.

The acting Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Ransford Tetteh, led the team to receive the award.

The ever improving National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ) came top as the television programme of the year at the awards ceremony.

Other entities, comprising motor companies, media organisations, financial institutions and telecommunication networks, received various awards.

McKorley pledges

In appreciation of the honour done him, Dr McKorley announced that he would partner with the CIMG to establish 20 SMEs at various locations in the country in support of the government's industrialisation drive which also aimed at creating more jobs.

He said the SMEs that would be set up before the end of his tenure as CIMG Marketing Man of the Year, would be in critical areas of the economy.

For him, the way forward to build the nation on a strong pillar was for the younger generation to believe in themselves and work hard to excel in various fields.

In addition, he called for a reorientation of the mindset of all citizens towards self-reliance rather than begging for aid from elsewhere.