- Gary Coombe will give lecture at Aston University on 10 May
- The lecture is jointly hosted by Aston University and the Chartered Management Institute
- The annual MacLaren lecture commemorates the life of James MacLaren, first chair of the Birmingham College of Technology, an antecedent of Aston University.
The chief executive of Gillette will make the case that brands must be ready to speak up about pressing issues in society in a public lecture at Aston University on 10 May.
The MacLaren Lecture is an annual event held jointly by Aston University and the Chartered Management Institute. The event has run since 1953 and attracts major speakers from business and industry.
Gary Coombe, who was awarded an honorary doctorate by Aston University in September 2021, will deliver the lecture Should brands take a stand? in which he will argue that brands must have a point of view on the most pressing – and sometimes controversial – issues in society.
Gary will explain why the world’s biggest advertiser is using its voice to advocate for change in areas of gender equality, racism and LGBTQ+ rights and share the inside story of the Gillette film that AdWeek described as ‘one small step for men and one giant leap for the ad industry’, sparking a global conversation about masculinity and an equally heated debate about the role of brands in modern society.
The MacLaren annual lecture commemorates the life of James MacLaren, one of the most eminent industrialists in Birmingham’s history. He was one of the founder members of the Birmingham branch of the Chartered Management Institute and was the first chair of the Birmingham College of Technology, an antecedent of Aston University. He was particularly known for developing links between industry and education.
The event is free to attend and open to all, but tickets must be booked in advance via Eventbrite.
- Notes to Editors
Notes to Editors
About Aston University
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Saskia Hansen is the interim Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.
Aston University was named University of the Year 2020 by The Guardian and the University’s full time MBA programme has been ranked in the top 100 in the world in the Economist MBA 2021 ranking. The Aston MBA has been ranked 12th in the UK and 85th in the world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Sam Cook, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44)74469 10063 or email: s.cook2@aston.ac.uk
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