Following on from CIM’s launch of 50 North East Marketing Greats in March, they invite you to meet Sasha O’Neill of house builder, Bellway, which was established in Newcastle in 1946.

This new initiative aims to develop and retain marketing talent in the North East region. Diane Earles, Network Manager for CIM, explains “‘North East Marketing Greats’ are marketing figureheads from some of the biggest brands in the region, like Bellway that is the fourth largest volume housebuilding group in the UK. Through the ‘Marketing Greats’ we want to provide insight into the importance of a strategic marketing function and to inspire both existing marketing professionals and young people considering a career in marketing. Each ‘Marketing Great’ is profiled in an online case study which includes their words of wisdom for aspiring marketers alongside their career story and why they enjoy working in the region.” She continued, “Developing our original ‘Great North East Brands’ initiative, which ran for a number of years, ‘Marketing Greats’ provides a regional platform for marketing to be recognised as having a key role in business growth while celebrating the number of senior marketing roles located in the North East.”

Like Sasha, who has been Group Head of Marketing at Bellway since November 2013. She is a passionate marketer and knew from the age of 12 that she wanted “A career which centred on communication and allowed me to use my creativity”. She continued, “I also strive to promote the link between marketing and the achievement of wider business objectives because I firmly believe that marketing is not just ‘words and pictures’”.

The 50 ‘North East Marketing Greats’ profiles can be found at www.cim.co.uk/NEmarketinggreats