Fidelity and CMO James Speros Win FCS Financial Marketer of the Year Honors

The award will be presented to James Speros, Chief Marketing Officer, at a gala luncheon sponsored by CNBC at the New York Yacht Club on Thursday, January 28th

NEW YORK -- The Financial Communications Society (FCS) announced today that Fidelity Investments has been named recipient of the 2009 FCS Financial Marketer of the Year Award.  The award will be presented to James Speros, Chief Marketing Officer, at a gala luncheon sponsored by CNBC at the New York Yacht Club on Thursday, January 28th.

Fidelity, the well-known company offering mutual funds, discount brokerage and numerous other services, was selected by a panel of recognized marketing experts from nominations submitted by FCS members and the financial marketing community. The award recognizes a financial services firm whose marketing has resulted in outstanding business results over the past year.  "I am personally thrilled to receive this award and thank the FCS for the recognition it bestows on me, my team, Arnold Worldwide and the talented people at Fidelity" said Jim Speros, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Fidelity Investments, Personal & Workplace Investing.

The luncheon's keynote address will be provided by Chris Farrell, economics correspondent for American Public Media's Marketplace and author of the new release:  The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More, and Live Better.

"In the most challenging year for marketing financial services in decades, Fidelity responded like a true leader," says Kevin Windorf, President of the FCS. "Jim Speros and his team produced an effective array of marketing communications that enlivened the firm's brand and delivered results." "In 2009, more people than ever wanted dialogue with a trusted professional in order to make their investment decisions.  Fidelity’s marketing team let the public know that Fidelity was there to respond to their questions." says John Mittnacht, co-chair of the Marketer of the Year event. 

The 2009 FCS Financial Marketer of the Year Award judges included Richard Aneser, recent Managing Director, Merrill Lynch; Lorna Boucher-Morgan, Executive Director, UBS Equities; Mark DiMassimo, CEO, DiMassimoGoldstein/DIGO Brands; Michael Gallary, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Bruce Goldberg, CMO, International Securities Exchange; Thom Gruhler, President, McCann Erickson NY; Richard Myers, EVP, Edelman; Sharon Napier, CEO, Partners + Napier; Mary O’Keefe, CMO, Principal Financial Group; Chris Poe, Head of Brand Management & Advertising, BlackRock; Aaron Reitkopf, recent President, Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners; and Howard Sherman, President, Doremus NY.

The event is co-chaired by John Mittnacht, Partner and Director of Client Services at DiMassimoGoldstein/DIGO Brands, and Hayward Henderson, Director of Online Sales at Asset International. Committee members include Jennifer Masiello (FCS), Lauries Sayres, Steve Facini and Jeremy Dickstein.

About the Financial Communications Society (www.fcsinteractive.com):

The Financial Communications Society (FCS), a not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to improving professional standards in financial communications.  It provides professionals in the industry with a forum for gathering relevant information, sharing ideas and building relationships with industry colleagues.  The FCS hosts the annual FCS Portfolio Awards, for creative excellence in financial services advertising/collateral/digital media; the annual FCS Financial Marketer of the Year Award; a monthly luncheon series featuring prominent industry speakers, and numerous educational events.  The capstone of the annual charity-focused activities organized by the FCS is the FCS Race for Kids (www.fcsraceforkids.org) which has raised more than $1.1 million for three children’s charities.

Press Contact:

Kevin Windorf, 908-391-2723, kwindorf@fcsinteractive.com