Ruth Mortimer: It’s not goodbye….

The Beatles famously said “you say goodbye and I say hello”. There surely couldn’t be any better way of summing up what I’m trying to say. After nearly three years editing Marketing Week, I’m taking on a new challenge as content director for our parent company Centaur’s marketing brands.

So this is goodbye. And also hello. Because I will still be working on and for Marketing Week, but alongside our other brands: Econsultancy, Creative Review, Design Week, Celebrity Intelligence, Year Ahead, Foresight News, Fashion Monitor, Beauty Monitor and the Festival of Marketing.

Marketing Week will be in very safe hands with Russell Parsons – who has most recently held the position of news editor here – as your new editor. From next week, you will be able to read his thoughts in this spot. I am sure he will build on what we have done so far and innovate successfully during his time in charge.

Now with not-really-leaving in mind, please forgive me for making this column so much about me as usually I prefer to write about marketers and the industry rather than myself.

I’ve spent a few days looking back at my first few columns as editor to see what has changed in the past three years. The topics included the need for marketers to be corporate leaders; the seismic changes within the retail sector; the difficulties of crisis management; and controversy in campaigns.

At first it might seem that nothing has changed. Marketing is still not given the credit it is due in driving organisational growth, the retail landscape is even more volatile and brand reputation and controversy are never out of the news.

But that wouldn’t be true. Marketing is far more complex than even three years ago: more channels, more opportunities, more scrutiny and also more fun. It truly is a fantastic industry.

I’m thrilled if I have managed to play any part in that journey in my time editing Marketing Week. So thank you for a brilliant three years and here’s to many more.

Recommended