Mon 22nd Jan 2024 - Industry’s top young marketers and innovators unveiled Industry’s top young marketers and innovators unveiled: Propel and Think Hospitality have unveiled the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Rising Stars finalists for 2023. The programme recognises talented future leaders in marketing, innovation and strategy roles within the sector who are under 30 years of age and is hosted at the European Summit, which also incorporates a two-day conference and awards event. The recipients were recognised at a special reception held at Theseleff Group venue, Viajante 87, in London’s Notting Hill this evening (Monday, 22 January). Judges looked for creativity, confidence, commercial awareness, ability to collaborate, leadership skills and perseverance. They also looked for experience in senior stakeholder management, understanding of how to develop strategy, ability to self-reflect, and clear potential to be an industry leader of the future. This year’s list is: Alexandra Daly, brand marketing executive, The Restaurant Group; Amy Illing, marketing manager, Burger & Lobster; Andrea Jansen, mobilisation manager, SSP; Anna Mansfield, marketing manager, Buns from Home; Ben Kendall, business development manager, Feed it Back; Charlotte Gazzard, social media and content executive, Turtle Bay; Csenge Maro, marketing executive, Turtle Bay; Federica D’Incecco, reservations and events manager, Nobu London; Jess Maciazek, senior account manager, Fleet Street Communications; Jordan Graham, founder, Sugar Snap; Luci Cunningham, head of sales, Airship & Toggle; Marii King-Forward, social media executive, The Alchemist; Meera Mawkin, founder, OutOut; Megan Simpson, marketing manager, Caprice Holdings; Michael Kearns, head of customer success, Wireless Social; Molly Capel, business development manager, Red Engine; Nick Paine, founder, OpSpot; Paddy Gardiner, brand drinks manager, Cote Restaurants; Samuel Wells, senior account manager, Fleet Street Communications; Selen Arioglu, social media and digital marketing manager, Inception Group; Sophie Kelly, marketing manager, Kerb+; Sophie May, marketing manager, Punch Pubs; and Zoe Wright, brand marketing executive, Mission Mars. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator co-founder James Hacon said: “It’s just fantastic to be able to recognise some of our sector’s brightest young professionals from across the spectrum of marketing, business development and innovation at both operators and suppliers. It is always an uplifting way to start the year, bringing together so many future leaders for networking and to recognise their achievements.”