Philip Blake, President and CEO of Bayer Inc., is IABC/Toronto's 2008 Communicator of the Year (COTY).

As the head of one of the country's largest pharmaceutical companies, he is a leader who communicates with enthusiasm, both inside and outside the company.

Blake has played an active role in such employee programs as Love Winning (recognizing employees who come to work with a sense of adventure) and Life At Work (providing a fitness centre, driving range, quiet room and other amenities to encourage well-being). They are initiatives that helped put Bayer on Maclean's Magazine's Top 100 Employers in 2008.

In the community, Blake and his senior team have helped serve breakfasts to students at a local middle school. Last year he chaired the board representing Canada's more than 50 research-based pharmaceutical companies, raising awareness around the need for Canadians to have more access to novel pharmaceutical therapies. One COTY judge noted, "He leads by example, with priorities that are clear."

Come honour Philip Blake as the 2008 Communicator of the Year Award at the 2008 OVATION Awards Gala scheduled for May 29, 2008 at the Liberty Grand.

Past COTY Award winners

• Philip Blake, President and CEO of Bayer Inc. (2008)
• Annette Verschuren, President of Home Depot Canada (2007)
• Mayor Hazel McCallion, City of Mississauga (2006)
• Malcolm Heins of Law Society of Upper Canada (2005)
• D. Wayne Fyffe of Credit Valley Hospital (2004)
• Edward Marra of Nestlé Canada (2003)
• David Booth of Compaq Canada Corp. (2002)
• Paul Tsaparis of Hewlett-Packard Canada (2001)
• Marguerite Jackson of the Toronto District School Board (2000)
• Rudy Riedl of Enbridge Consumers Gas (1999)
• Jeff Lozon of St. Michael's Hospital (1998)
• Paul Lucas of Glaxo Wellcome Inc. (1997)

Criteria:

The COTY award recognizes a Toronto-based leader who strategically demonstrates excellence in communication. Entries will be evaluated according to the following criteria with equal weight given to each area:

• Demonstrates exceptional leadership, management and communications skills
  • The COTY has defined the vision, objectives, expectations and strategic priorities in conjunction with the leadership of the organization. The COTY recognizes the significance of the communications function and includes key communicators in the development of the organization's strategic plan in order to demonstrate a commitment to engaging key stakeholders. In addition, the COTY embraces a leading role in all facets of the delivery of the communications program to entrench a position as the definitive leader of the organization and all that it represents.
  • The COTY encourages a defined process to measure the impact and effectiveness of all of the organization's communications programs.
• Develops communication strategies that contribute to the ongoing success of an organization
  • The COTY has encouraged and endorsed the development of a strategic communication plan identifying core values, key messages, delivery channels, key milestones and measurements of success.
• Utilizes effective internal and external communications
  • The COTY has endorsed a formal and informal detailed strategic plan to communicate to all internal and external stakeholders in both traditional and non-traditional formats the vision, objectives and priorities of the organization.
  • The COTY views communications as a tool to gain greater understanding (and support) among key stakeholders of the challenges and successes of the organization. On an on-going basis the COTY encourages and participates in evolving new and innovative methods of communication.
• Communicates to diverse audiences
  • The COTY will take an active role in multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder communications demonstrating openness and encouraging support for the achievement of the organization's objectives. The COTY will encourage programs to measure the impact of these efforts and adapt accordingly to achieve the desired communications results.
• Exemplifies the role of leader in communications
  • The COTY will have a demonstrated track record and commitment to both corporate and community citizenship.

Eligibility:

• The organization must be Greater Toronto Area-based
• The nominee must have at least one year tenure in their current position
• The nominee must have the official title of Chairman, CEO, COO/President or equivalent paid position in a charity, association, private or public sector

Nomination information:

Any IABC/Toronto member or non-member may nominate a candidate or candidates, provided the nominations are submitted separately. All nominations must include a completed nomination form.

Please support your nomination of the candidate by providing information as requested below. Submissions should be contained within a one-inch binder (four copies) and must include, but not necessarily be limited to:

1. A 200-word summary statement - why the nominee deserves the Award of Excellence in Communication Leadership. (To be used for promotional purposes.)
2. Executive summary of two or more communications plans, campaigns or projects in which your nominee demonstrates their leadership ability. Submission should include evaluation and results
3. Description of current position(s) and accomplishments
4. Educational summary
5. Awards and recognition (local, regional, international)
6. Volunteer leadership positions, and
7. Recent media coverage if applicable.

Information submitted will be reviewed by a qualified judging panel and will be kept in strict confidence. Entries will not be returned.

For more information on the Communicator of the Year Award, e-mail the Chair, COTY Award Selection Committee at toronto-awards@iabc.com.

Key Dates:

Nomination deadline for 2008: April 1, 2008

Award Presentation (winner MUST be present): May 29, 2008