The Marketing Society Appoints Formula E CEO as Chair

The Marketing Society has appointed Jeff Dodds as its new Chair, effective from 4 August.

Jeff Dodds, the Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, is one of the biggest names in the business industry and brings over three decades of leadership experience to his new role.

Succeeding Chair Craig Inglis, who was in the role for eight years, Jeff aims to enhance the comprehension and value of marketing in the boardroom and will emphasise the importance of marketing as a catalyst for a successful business.

The Marketing Society is a non-profit organisation which globally focuses on accelerating the impact of marketing through connection, inspiration and professional growth. Since founded in 1959, it has become an increasingly reputable community and connects senior marketers worldwide.

As Chair, Jeff will be responsible for leading the board of directors, overseeing The Marketing Society’s strategic direction and retaining its strong community.

A leader who can adapt

Very few people lead global marketing organisations and progress into CEOs. Jeff’s experience has honoured him as an incredibly valuable leader for any enterprise.

Previously holding leadership roles at Virgin Media and Honda, Jeff describes marketing as “a catalyst for driving responsible business growth, not there to sit on the periphery of that,” and encourages bold approaches from his teams.

His marketing-first approach has been successful and resulted in Formula E being positioned as a leading platform for electric mobility and technological advancement.

The Marketing Society’s CEO, Sophie Devonshire, comments: “Jeff is exactly the right leader for our next chapter – he has led as both a marketer and a chief executive, and he understands what this Society and our members stand for.”

Jeff prioritises energy, optimism and accountability in all of his teams and challenges leaders to think bigger about the impact they can have, to think of something others haven’t.

The new appointment aligns with a marketing shift

“I genuinely believe we’re entering one of the most important periods in the history of marketing.” Jeff comments on LinkedIn. “For too long, marketing has too often found itself defending its existence, viewed by some as a cost rather than what I believe it truly is: one of the most powerful drivers of sustainable business growth.”

Jeff is well aware of the new trajectory marketing is slowly heading for and emphasises that marketers cannot ignore the concept of AI if they want to reach success.

Marketing is becoming smarter everyday. More innovative, more creative and more competitive. Utilising AI to interpret and interrogate data leverages a company and allows it to uncover a larger data set range. This can then be used and campaigns can be designed and personalised to resonate with a target audience.

Jeff has seen both sides of the impact relevant marketing has and will use this knowledge set to assist The Marketing Society’s next chapter of success.

The newly appointed Chair has made it his mission to encourage leaders to test the brave ideas, make the smartest decisions and create the strongest emotional connections. 

With the combination of his mindset and experience, Jeff brings an exciting angle to the role and will undoubtedly encourage bolder marketing worldwide.