David Koch was awarded the 2021 Sir Charles McGrath Award and used his acceptance speech to call on marketing firms to support SMEs, emphasizing the value of quality advice.
Whilst Koch is most well known as a television presenter and with the Port Adelaide Football Club, his reception of the McGrath Award reflects the success of his marketing and digital content production company, Pinstripe Media. Koch says the company is his true passion.
“I’ve owned a family business since the late 1990s and I’m proud of Pinstripe Media’s growth into a leading business, finance, and tech content marketing and digital publishing business.”
“My role in Sunrise is somewhat a hobby that’s spun out of control. I was asked to fill in as host for three months… and that was 19 years ago.”
Marketers can do more for SMEs
Receiving the award, Koch called out the importance of quality marketing services for SMEs.
“I’m so passionate about doing what I and Pinstripe Media can do to help small businesses. Small business owners are the risk-takers, the new wave of success stories, and the new employers. They deserve the best possible support.”
Since 1976, the prestigious Sir Charles McGrath Award has been presented to those who have made the most significant contribution to the field of marketing through sound business practice, development of the marketing profession, or wider industry achievements.
Criteria for awarding the Sir Charles McGrath Award
The judges review submissions across 18 categories and nine special categories.
The judges consider the nominees’ B2B and B2C metrics and success factors, as well as linkages between strategy, execution and outcomes achieved. Nominations are assessed by a judging panel of over 100 independent Certified Practising Marketers (CPM).
CPM is the peak professional benchmark for marketing professionals in the APAC region and is awarded to those with ethical behavior, depth of experience and currency of knowledge.
It provides access to ongoing professional development, mentorship opportunities and a network of Australia’s best marketers, through the CPM Member Directory.
Koch emphasized that experienced marketers can help small businesses by considering the unique story and circumstances of each business in terms of market and inspiration.
“So often, people think small business is just a small version of big business, an inanimate corporate structure on a different scale. But every small business is founded, owned and operated by a unique human being who has decided to follow their passion.”
The Sir Charles McGrath Award was presented as part of the AMI Awards for Marketing Excellence, which were established in 1982 to celebrate the extraordinary success achieved through innovative and effective marketing practices.
“It’s an honor to receive the Sir Charles McGrath Award and follow in the footsteps of previous winners, such as Marnie Baker, Christine Holgate, Mark Ritson and Andrew Baxter.”
AMI CEO, Narendra Prasad, said Koch was an incredibly worthy winner.
“David encapsulates the spirit of AMI and the Sir Charles McGrath Award, he has achieved incredible success through innovation and is an exemplar of the marketing profession.”
