Catherine Lee and Gregory Duggan of Queen’s University

Queen’s University Students Win “Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec”
TORONTO, Ont. (March 27, 2008) – Catherine Lee and Gregory Duggan from Queen’s University have won Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec and each has now got a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer, as well as the new title of “Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec.”

The competition, which received submissions from 27 Canadian universities, was open to all undergraduate, MBA and business minor students across the country. The finals were made up of a combination of undergraduate and MBA students from 8 universities. This year’s Top Ad Execs, Catherine Lee and Gregory Duggan, from Vancouver, are now both in their 2nd year at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

“We are blown away with winning, said Catherine Lee. “We never really thought it could happen but we’re thrilled and honoured that it did. “The business community has been really supportive of this whole program and that’s something that is very unique”, said Gregory Duggan.

“ Live innovative marketing is what this competition is all about, said Tomoki Yanagawa, V.P. Corporate Planning, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. Partnering with the Degroote School of Business supports our own innovative approach to building the Mitsubishi brand in Canada while at the same time allows us to give back to Canada’s future business leaders.”

In the final round of the competition, which involved ten teams, the duo had to present their marketing plans for Mitsubishi Motors to a panel of 14 marketing experts from industry and academia. Dr Nick Bontis, Director of Undergraduate Programs at the DeGroote School of Business, was one of the judges and spoke of the decision to name Catherine and Gregory as the winners. “They did the Wayne Gretzky ‘thing’ said Dr. Bontis. “They went all the way, and looked at where the branding of Mitsubishi Motors is today, as well as where the branding will be tomorrow.”

Renzo Mendoza from Brock University, in St. Catharines, earned himself a very respectable second place in the competition. As the only finalist who entered the competition alone, Renzo was watched by his father, who had flown in from Vancouver to see his final presentation. Infield Marketing Group in Mississauga was so impressed with Renzo’s accomplishments that he was offered an internship with the company.

Third place went to two more students from Queens University: Sean Roberts and Michael Wallace. Both in their final year at Queens, Sean and Michael will now be deciding their career paths, and have the amazing experience and achievement of getting so far in Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec, along with some amazing prizes from FUJIFILM that were given to the top 3.

The competition, which is run by students from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University has attracted the attention of some key sponsors from the marketing and advertising world, all interested in attracting and encouraging new talent, and furthering a program that is helping bridge the gap between industry and academia.

Pictures and more information on the competition and finalists are available by request or can be downloaded from www.mitsubishi-motors-pr.ca and www.topadexec.com.