I discussed the current state and outlook of marketing with Gord McLean, President and CEO of ANA Educational Foundation.  He shares his insights about the misconceptions surrounding marketing, key takeaways for marketers from the pandemic and striking the right balance between the qualitative and quantitative sides of marketing. He also stressed that the profession needs to do a better job of ‘marketing’ marketing to students and the greater use of AI and other technologies does not mean the end of traditional marketing.

Gord McLean is President and CEO of the ANA Educational Foundation. As an AEF Board Member for over 10 years and a past-Chair, he led the AEF's merger with the Association of National Advertisers and is committed to advancing the AEF's mission to be the bridge connecting the marketing, advertising, and academic communities. Previously he was Global Managing Partner at the Young & Rubicam Group, one of the world's leading providers of integrated marketing communications and services. At Y&R Group he worked with clients around the world to help build their businesses across geographies and across all disciplines. He also drove the Group's cross-company business development initiatives. Gord joined Young & Rubicam Group in 2007 from Y&R Advertising, where in his last assignment he was CEO for North America. Over his 16 years at Y&R, Gord acquired global experience spanning every region and almost every category. After first serving as Managing Partner of Y&R Toronto, he made the move to New York to lead global clients such as Colgate-Palmolive, Ford, Citibank, and Chevron. Gord has also served as Y&R's President, Chief Operating Officer for Asia-Pacific, and President of Global Client Services.