Our History

The Marketing Institute of Ireland is today a modern and forward-looking network of professionals in the fastest-growing economy in Europe, with our eyes firmly focused on the unfolding 21st century and the opportunities it is presenting Irish businesses to create and serve markets, to build brand equity, and to increase shareholder value.

Given the current economic challenges arising from global recession, one can say with certainty that never before has Ireland more needed top class marketing people. So our mission is a critical one for business, and perhaps all of society, across our island.

But where have we come from? Here is a synopsis of our history.

Institute Interwoven with Development of the Nation

One could say that our development as an organisation has been a reflection of the growth of modern Ireland. Now in our fifth decade, we have been there all the way, playing our part in Irish business life, facilitating and supporting the marketing professionals and business leaders who, by focusing on customers and markets, played their part in the creating what was to become the modern Irish economy. In fact, we are particularly proud of the fact that the man widely regarded as the architect of modern Ireland, Taoiseach Seán Lemass TD, was an ardent supporter of our work, and served as President of the Institute for four years from 1967. To this day we present our Seán F. Lemass Award to exemplars of exceptional marketing performance.


Origins

Commerce has been a feature of life in Ireland going back to the Bronze Age, when we were engaged in extensive international trade, but the story of the Institute really begins in 1962.

Since 1947 there had been an Irish affiliate of the London-based Incorporated Sales Managers’ Association (ISMA) in place, and there were Irish branches in Dublin, Belfast and Cork. Developments in the early 1960s were changing the business landscape. The Treaty of Rome had established the new Common Market, Teilifís Éireann had just been launched, and Ted Levitt had published the sensational “Marketing Myopia” article in the Harvard Business Review. In what was to be a far-reaching event, the ISMA in Ireland broke with London and formed the Irish Institute of Marketing and Sales Management in 1962.

This was a courageous move, as at that time the commercial culture in Ireland was very weak. There was widespread conservatism, an unwillingness to change, and a shortage of well-trained managers. Exports were low and aimed mainly at Britain. There was a general lack of initiative in sales management, and marketing was little understood and rarely practised. Furthermore there was no university degree course available in marketing.

1960s

The initial emphasis of the Institute in the 1960s was on establishing an independent, vibrant and relevant professional Institute.

A new Diploma in Marketing was made available to students in 1962, examined by the Institute of Marketing in Britain. Student numbers increased, and links were forged with universities and other industry bodies.

Amongst the very early contributors at our events were Tony O’Reilly, General Manager of Bord Báinne, Jack Lynch TD, Minister for Industry and Commerce, and Garret Fitzgerald TD.

In 1964, the Institute affiliated to the European Contact Group of Marketing, and we were founder members of the European Marketing Confederation (EMC), its successor. Through our extensive participation in the EMC, we were centrally involved in the development of marketing at European level. A number of Institute members held high office in the EMC at different stages.

In 1965 the name of the Institute was shortened to the Marketing Institute of Ireland. This was not because the discipline of sales management was being jettisoned, but to the contrary, it was clearly understood that sales management was just one sub-set of the full range of marketing disciplines.

1970s

The emphasis of the Institute in the 1970s was on developing a degree-equivalent part-time professional qualification that would provide real practical benefit to individuals and their employers.

In 1971, we launched our own programme of study and examinations for professional qualification in marketing. This was to be a two-tier four-year programme. A Certificate in Marketing would be awarded after completing Parts I and II, and student who completed Parts III and IV would receive the Graduateship of the Institute. The list of past graduates of this programme today reads like a who’s who of leadership in Irish business.

Later in the 1970s we established the annual National Marketing Conference, which is today one of the major events in the business calendar in Ireland.

1980s

The emphasis of the Institute in the 1980s was on increasing public awareness of the importance of marketing. We campaigned for increased government support for marketing in private companies, especially for exporting, and we became established as the voice of professional marketing in Ireland.

In 1986 our membership surpassed 1,000. In 1987 the government appointed the late Séamus Brennan TD as Minister of State for Marketing, the first time the term Marketing was used in the title of a government office. New courses were launched on sectoral marketing, including financial services and retail, and a newly refreshed Graduateship programme was introduced. Also in that year, Philip Kotler, one of the foremost marketing authors in the world, addressed over 700 members, students and others in Dublin, and he was conferred with Honorary Fellowship of the Institute.

1990s

The 1990s saw growth in membership, development of events for members, and further offerings in the professional development area. Membership surpassed 2,000 in 1990, and 2,500 in 1995. In 1994, conscious of the need to keep the disciplines of professional selling integrated with the other functions in business, we launched the Certificate in Selling. We launched the Young Marketing Breakfast series, sponsored by The Irish Times, and initiated the Top Marketing Forum for senior executives. We went online in January 1996.

Available from the Marketing Institute.