During its annual 2012 conference, the American Marketing Association Foundation (AMAF) announced the creation of the William L. Wilkie “Marketing for a Better World” Award to honor the life of William Wilkie, the Nathe Professor of Marketing at the Mendoza College of Business.

The Wilkie Award recognizes marketing thinkers who have significantly contributed to the understanding and appreciation for marketing’s potentials to improve the world, and from whose work notable advances have ensued. 

On Feb. 16, 2013, the AMAF bestowed the inaugural Wilkie Award to Philip Kotler, the S.C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Kotler received his award at the 2013 AMA Winter Marketing Educators’ Conference on at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV.

“I’m extremely pleased that Philip Kotler was selected as the inaugural winner of this award,” Wilkie said. “Not only has he been a major force in shaping marketing thought and practice generally, but his superb contributions have notably reflected sensitivity to expanding positive marketing impacts on our world—actually around the world.”

Kotler received his master’s degree at the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both in economics.  He did post-doctoral work in mathematics at Harvard University and in behavioral science at the University of Chicago.

Kotler is the author of: Marketing Management, the most widely adopted marketing textbook in graduate business schools worldwide; Principles of Marketing; Marketing Models; Strategic Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations; The New Competition; High Visibility; Social Marketing; Marketing Places; Marketing for Congregations; Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism; The Marketing of Nations; Kotler on Marketing, Building Global Biobrands, Attracting Investors, Ten Deadly Marketing Sins, Marketing Moves, Chaotics, Marketing Your Way to Growth, and Marketing Insights from A to Z.  He has published more than 150 articles in leading journals, several of which have received best-article awards.

He was the first recipient of the American Marketing Association’s (AMA) “Distinguished Marketing Educator Award” (1985).  The European Association of Marketing Consultants and Sales Trainers awarded Kotler their prize for “Marketing Excellence”.  He was chosen as the “Leader in Marketing Thought” by the Academic Members of the AMA in a 1975 survey.  He also received the 1978 “Paul Converse Award” of the AMA, honoring his original contribution to marketing.  In 1989, he received the Annual Charles Coolidge Parlin Marketing Research Award.  In 1995, the Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI) named him “Marketer of the Year”.

In addition, Kotler has consulted for such companies as IBM, General Electric, AT&T, Honeywell, Bank of America, Merck and others in the areas of marketing strategy and planning, marketing organization and international marketing.

He has been Chairman of the College of Marketing of the Institute of Management Sciences, a Director of the American Marketing Association, a Trustee of the Marketing Science Institute, a Director of the MAC Group, a former member of the Yankelovich Advisory Board, and a former member of the Copernicus Advisory Board.  He has been a Member of the Board of Governors of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Member of the Advisory Board of the Drucker Foundation.  He has received honorary doctoral degrees from the Stockholm University, University of Zurich, Athens University of Economics and Business, DePaul University, the Cracow School of Business and Economics, Groupe H.E.C. in Paris, the University of Economics and Business Admininstration in Vienna, Budapest University of Economic Science and Public Administration, and the Catholic University of Santo Domingo.

The Wilkie Award is a major academic recognition for the field, recognizing Marketing thought leaders whose conceptual developments, substantive applications, or empirical studies served to provide significant bases for improvements in the world.  There is a broad range of research areas from which the award can come, including (but not limited to) marketing theory, innovation, macromarketing, marketing and public policy, ethics and social responsibility, social marketing, services marketing, competition, pricing, advertising, marketing and development, transformative consumer research, and marketing and the consumer interest.

The nomination period for the 2014 Wilkie Award will open in September of 2013.  Additional information will be found at http://www.themarketingfoundation.org/wilkie.html.  

The American Marketing Association (AMA) is the largest marketing association in North America with a global network of over 30,000 members. It is a professional association for individuals involved in the practice, teaching and study of marketing worldwide. As the leading organization for marketers, AMA is the trusted go-to resource for marketers and academics. AMA is counted on as the most credible marketing resource where members can stay relevant with knowledge, training and tools to enhance lifelong learning and obtain valuable information and connections. For more information on the American Marketing Association, please visit: www.MarketingPower.com.

The American Marketing Association Foundation (AMAF) champions the marketing profession by encouraging excellence and investing in marketing that benefits society.