1. © MRA Marketing 2015
Construction Marketing Awards 2015
Category 22: Emerging talent – Young Marketer of the Year
Sam Forster-Spira,Account Manager
15th
July 1992
Joined MRA: July 2014
“Young marketers like Sam Forster-Spira are an inspiration.
MRA is the perfect platform for Sam to combine his
impressive analytical and communications skills to deliver hard-
hitting, high-performance marketing campaigns for his
customers. We’re very pleased to have Sam on our team.“
Rob McGlennon, Sales Director, Deceuninck UK
SUMMARY
Consistently delivering the outstanding results our customers demand takes a particular combination
of skill, dedication and tenacity. Sam Forster-Spira has these qualities. In little over a year, this
University of Bath graduate has become a credible and respected account manager running major
integrated marketing campaigns forsome of our biggest customers including Deceuninck and Easilume.
‘Sam has really worked hard to get under the skin of what makes the sector tick, as well as fully
embracing MRA’s unique brand of strategic, joined-up thinking,’ says MRA MD Mike Rigby.
Rob McGlennon, Sales Director at Deceuninck, one of the world’s leading PVC-U systems companies,
values Sam’s contribution. ‘Sam seems to really understand our business model and objectives and is
committed to helping us achieve our goals.’

2. © MRA Marketing 2015
Sam is proud to be part of the team that has seen Deceuninck more than double its marketing activity
in the last 12 months and to play an active role in delivering the strategy that has seen a new voice
and awareness firmly established for Easilume, a leading manufacturer of LED lighting. ‘I still have lots
to learn,’ says Sam, ‘but I’m glad to be following in the footsteps of such great marketing
professionals.’
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Demonstrable success in exceeding objectives set
When Sam joined MRA in 2014 fresh out of university, we expected big things. Twice voted No.1 in the
CMA Agency League, winners 10 times and finalists 15 times between 2002 and 2014, MRA is no stranger
to success. Consistently delivering the outstanding results our customers demand, takes a particular
combination of skill, dedication and tenacity. Qualities MRA staff have in abundance.
‘We recognised these qualities in Sam too,’ says MRA Director, Lucia Di Stazio. ‘Of course, it was never
going to be easy. We ask a great deal of our new starters. As a graduate starting his first full-time role,
Sam had to hit the ground running.’
At the University of Bath where Sam was a Natural Science student Majoring in Environmental
Chemistry, he particularly relished the challenge of a broad curriculum, which allowed him to pursue
his passion for science, his aptitude for maths and his blossoming interest in a career in construction
marketing. His placement year at the Science & Technologies Facilities Council allowed him to flex his
marketing muscles and to tackle some interesting communication challenges. Part of Sam’s role
included inspiring a love of science in a diverse audience mix from five-year-old inner city primary
school pupils to seasoned octogenarians from the WI! At MRA, Sam has put his multi-disciplinary skills
to good use. In little over a year he has become a credible and respected Account Manager running
major integrated marketing campaigns for some of our biggest customers including Deceuninck and
Easilume.
‘As with any new starter in our business,’ says MRA MD Mike Rigby. ‘Sam faced some not inconsiderable
hurdles. Firstly, he had to learn the construction sector inside and out. Our customers turn to us for
our expertise and industry knowledge. Sam has really worked hard to get under the skin of what makes
the sector tick, as well as fully embracing MRA’s unique brand of strategic, joined-up thinking. He has
also made great strides in understanding the specific sectors and the businesses our customers are in
and the challenges they face.’
For any aspiring Account Manager, the best accolade he or she can hope for is the respect of their
customers. Rob McGlennon, Sales Director at Deceuninck, one of the world’s leading PVC-U systems
companies, is full of praise for Sam’s abilities. ‘Sam is a much valued member of our marketing team.
He has a good business head and has come up with some cracking ideas. He seems to really understand
our business model and objectives and is committed to helping us achieve our goals. He has great
relationships our customers as well as the team here at Deceuninck. It’s great to see him flourishing at
MRA.’

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Consistent high performance delivering impressive results
A year in and Sam’s MRA career is going from strength to strength. ‘I still have lots to learn,’ says Sam,
‘But in my role I drive the accounts I manage and bring in the expertise of our media and PR experts,
as well as our creative and digital gurus as and when needed.’ Sam is proud to be part of the team that
has seen Deceuninck more than double its marketing activity in the last 12 months. ‘It’s a fantastic
brand with huge ambitions. The Deceuninck team are very receptive to our proactive approach and it’s
extremely satisfying to see our combined efforts are really paying off. It’s an exciting time to be
involved with this impressive company.’
Sam is also rightly proud of his tenureship of Easilume, a leading light in the LED technology sector and
a flagship account for MRA. ‘Lighting represented a new market for us and it was a fascinating process
to be involved in. From a relatively modest budget we were able to firmly establish a new voice for
Easilume. From a PR perspective we were hugely successful in communicating the Easilume message
across a broad spectrum of trade press, achieving some significant and high profile placements for our
customer. The positive feedback from the sector was especially gratifying and really helped to embed
the Easilume brand in people’s minds.’
A personal commitment to innovation and development
Innovation and initiative are greatly encouraged at MRA and Sam recognises the opportunities he has
been given. ‘I feel very grateful to MRA for the support and encouragement they give me. We really
work as a team here and this collaborative approach has inspired me to keep achieving and developing
my skillset.’ When he’s not out shooting hoops or playing his guitar, Sam loves to practice his video
editing skills. He’s brought this passion into the workplace, driving the expansion of MRA’s in-house
video production facility. Sam is also a keen advocate of new media, whilst keeping a firm eye on the
more traditional methods of marketing. ‘When I tell people I work in marketing they instantly think I
mean social media. Whilst new media has a significant role to play, I have also learnt a great respect
for more traditional marketing methods such as direct mail and press advertising, which MRA is so
highly skilled at. I am really glad that my grounding in marketing is so rounded and to be following in
the footsteps of such great marketing professionals.