Tracey Cooke has been awarded the 2024 Gold Medal by the Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA).

The senior vice president and CMO at Nestlé Canada will receive the award at the Strategy Awards in the Arcadian Court Toronto on Oct. 1. The award honours those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of marketing communications in Canada.

Cooke spearheaded Nestlé Canada’s award-winning “KitKat Ramadan Iftar Bar” campaign, which blended cultural sensitivity with brand storytelling. She then drove the “KitKat Have AI Break” campaign, earning a Gold from Ad Age and a Silver Lion from Cannes this year.

“With a career that has had many twists and turns across a number of industries, it is so humbling to receive this for marketing, a profession and discipline that has the capacity to uplift, drive social change and, yes, build incredible brands and business,” Cooke said.

During her 11 years at Nestlé, Cooke oversaw media, consumer insights, digital transformation and product commercialization. For her efforts, she was named the 2022 recipient of The Marketing Academy US Fellowship and one of Marketing News Canada’s 24 Marketers to Watch in 2024.

Cooke’s career spans more than two decades. She has held senior positions at agencies like McLaren McCann and Public.

Outside of her role at Nestlé, Cooke sits on the board of the ACA, where she also serves as the Board Sponsor for the Cross Media Measurement Committee and Chair of the Governance Committee.

“The impact of Tracey’s leadership in the marketing industry has been exceptional,” said Andrea Hunt, who was recently named president and CEO of the ACA. “Her extensive contributions have not only advanced Nestlé Canada’s commercial performance but have also enriched the broader marketing community in Canada.”

Tennis Canada CEO Michael Downey won the ACA Gold Medal Award in 2023.