Montana chief top marketer

By DITA DE BONI

Montana Wines managing director Peter Hubscher was named FCB Marketer of the Year at the TVNZ/Marketing Magazine awards last night.

Mr Hubscher, who joined Montana Wines in 1973 and became managing director in 1991, has been involved in marketing the brand for much of that time.

Award judges described him as "inspirational, insightful and impassioned".

"At Hubscher's Montana, everyone has the right to speak their mind and be listened to," they said.

The top marketing prize overall this year was awarded to Chelsea Sugar, which judges said had rejuvenated a 100-year-old "brand icon" using celebrity chef Jo Seager and a national bake-off competition among other things.

Otago University's "Get over it!" campaign won the Mantiss non-profit category, and Kerikeri-based Olivado won the UNITEC small business award for a unique product - extra virgin avocado oil.

Fletcher Wood Panels won the Scottish Pacific business-to-business award for creating a "new business design fashion" with Seratone-brand panelling systems, and the consumer durables award went to Geddes Dental Group.