Volkswagen SA sales and marketing director, Mike Glendinning has been awarded the Loeries Marketing Excellence and Innovation Award for 2008. The award, introduced last year, recognises outstanding innovation in marketing and is given to an individual in recognition of his/her achievements over an extended period of time.

The Volkswagen SA group has been an Ogilvy client for close on 30 years, with Ogilvy Johannesburg handling the Audi account and Cape Town handling the Volkswagen business. Over the years, the agencies have created some of the most iconic advertising work in the automotive category.

“Mike has been at Volkswagen for 23 years and is a fantastic client to work with. He is worthy of this award in every respect. He has a deep understanding of creating iconic brands, a natural instinct about what constitutes a great idea and the ability to buy into these ideas and make them happen,” says Mike Abel, outgoing COO of Ogilvy SA who worked with Glendinning for 15 consecutive years.

Abel adds that the award is testimony to Glendinning's deep insight into the DNA of marques and his strategic role in building the brands and business.

Glendinning joined VWSA as a graduate trainee in 1985, and moved rapidly up the ladder in the sales and marketing division. He served as general manager - Audi sales and marketing, before assuming the post of general manager - Volkswagen sales and marketing in 2004. In 2006 he was appointed as sales and marketing director for Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Brands.

Abel concluded: “Mike Glendinning's belief that you don't watch a VW advert, but feel it, is testimony to his passion for and commitment to great work.”