The Sage Group Presents Marketers That Matter(TM) Award Finalists

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 4, 2014) - The Sage Group announced the finalists for Marketers That Matter™, an award sponsored by The Wall Street Journal that recognizes outstanding marketing executives at the forefront of their field. An elite panel of Council Members from Virgin America, Google, AirBnB, Netflix, PayPal, YouTube, Box.com, Banana Republic, Shutterfly, Twitter, Intel and others narrowed the field of applicants from hundreds to the final 35 marketers that demonstrate proven success in a rapidly changing environment. A panel of judges that includes top executives from Visa, Williams-Sonoma, Wells Fargo, LinkedIn, Intuit, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Jamba Juice, Sephora, Clif Bar & Co., and SAP select the winners based on driving results, leading & inspiring teams, and advancing their profession.

"This year's finalists prove that the Bay Area's leadership is not just technology but marketing as well," said The Sage Group CEO, Cara France. "Today's top marketers are reinventing the role of marketing, creating powerfully authentic and human connections with customers, while using data and digital technology to deliver highly personalized experiences online and offline. They are delivering both profit and purpose to the bottom line and we are honored to showcase their accomplishments as an inspiration to marketers everywhere."

Award Shows Value of Marketers That Matter
Based on the submissions, a clear picture emerged of how marketing is evolving and how top marketers drive engagement and growth that lead to measurable bottom line results. A complete list of finalists can be found at www.marketersthatmatter.com. Some of the finalists include the following innovators:

• Abby Lunardini, VP Marketing & Communications, Virgin America
• Alexandra Morehouse, Brand & Customer Evangelist, Kaiser
• Blair Christie, SVP and CMO, Cisco 
• Guy Longworth, SVP PlayStation Brand Marketing, Sony
• Kevin Burke, CMO, Visa
• Laura Messerschmitt, VP Social Marketing and Customer Advocacy, GoDaddy 
• Matt Madrigal, SVP eCommerce & Marketing, Williams-Sonoma
• Meagen Eisenberg, VP of Demand Generation, DocuSign
• Michael Lattig, Head of Brand and Creative, StubHub
• Paul Crandell, VP Marketing, GoPro

"The marketer's role is more complex and critical than ever to drive a company's revenue and create ongoing relationships with their customers," said Joel Lunenfeld, VP of Global Brand Strategy at Twitter. Brands today are living and breathing and Marketers that Matter know how to leverage advocates, technology, and data to amplify revenue and engage customers.

Category Winners
Winners will comprise a large company marketing executive and small company marketing executive for each category. The categories are aligned with today's emerging landscape and include:

• Marketing Team of the Year: B2B 
• Marketing Team of the Year: B2C
• Marketer of the Year: Brand Building
• Marketer of the Year: Customer Experience
• Marketer of the Year: Digital Innovation
• Marketer of the Year: Revenue Growth
• Marketer of the Year: Leveraging Bay Area Technology

Awards Gala and Winner Recognition
On May 8, 2014, marketing executives and industry leaders will gather to honor the finalists and announce the Marketers that Matter™ award winners. This invitation-only event will recognize and celebrate the contributions of cutting-edge marketers at The Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco.

This advertising initiative was created without the involvement of The Wall Street Journal's news department.

About The Sage Group
The Sage Group provides marketing and business consultants and contractors to leading Bay Area companies. As one of the largest women-owned Bay Area businesses, clients include 50 percent of Silicon Valley's top technology firms, largest banks, and best global brands. For more information, visit www.thesagegroup.com or follow @The_Sage_Group.