This talk by Steve Miles will explore Dove’s journey into purpose-led marketing. It will address the issues that brands committed to purpose face, and how these can be overcome for better public health outcomes and increased brand growth. A panel discussion with Myriam Sidibé, Leemore Dafny, John Haig & Nancy Etcoff will follow. Breakfast provided. RSVP appreciated but not required mrcbg@hks.harvard.edu
Steve W. Miles is Executive Vice President for Dove at Unilever plc, a role he has held since 2008. In this role he is accountable for all aspects of marketing, strategy, innovation and communications for the Dove brand (Unilever’s largest) worldwide. He has worked in Personal Care marketing for over 30 years, covering every continent. He was Global Brand Vice President for Lifebuoy 2004-2008, establishing many of the partnership building blocks on handwashing and social impact which have made the brand’s Purpose famous. Within Unilever he also led the corporate marketing digital transformation program in 2015-2016. He has won numerous industry awards for Brand Communication, most notably the Titanium Grand Prix for communications innovation at Cannes in 2013, and Gold Effies for communications effectiveness. A graduate of Cambridge University, he taught English Literature and Language at the University of Naples (1981-1982) and worked in various software engineering posts before embarking on his marketing career.