Alison Simpson is the President and CEO of the Canadian Marketing Association. She has held executive marketing roles and served as president of several marketing agencies through her career. She has also held executive roles and led brand, digital, loyalty, integrated marketing and customer experience teams for top tier brands, including Holt Renfrew, Rogers Communications, and TMX Group.

Prior to joining the CMA, Alison was Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Consumer Business at Key – an innovative technology company that has developed the world’s first all-digital, on-demand homeownership platform to make home ownership a reality for many. She is a Director on several Boards, including a not-for-profit and a publicly traded She also serves on the Advisory Board for the Master of Management Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Program at the Smith School of Business.

An experienced business and marketing strategist, Alison’s background as an consumer-centric business builder – who brings expertise across a broad range of marketing disciplines – means she has a unique ability to quickly assess the business potential, marketplace, and consumers’ needs to drive powerful results.

In her “life beyond work”, Alison is an avid traveller and passionate runner. Alison has completed 62 marathons and ultras, including winning her age group in a 250km Race Across the Sahara Desert and helping to raise $100,000 for the National Advertising Benevolence Society. Alison also climbed Mt Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Alzheimer Society.