Gerard Hastings is the first UK Professor of Social Marketing and founder/director of two research centres: the Institute for Social Marketing (1993) and the Centre for Tobacco Control Research (1999). These are based at the University of Stirling under a joint venture agreement with the Open University. The Institute for Social Marketing researches the applicability of marketing principles such as consumer orientation and relationship building to the solution of health and social problems. It also conducts critical marketing research into the impact of potentially health damaging marketing, such as tobacco advertising and fast food promotion. Gerard is an Advisor to the World Health Organization, and sits on the FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) Cross Board Advertising Committee. He is also an expert witness in litigation against the tobacco industry, and provides regular guidance on social and critical marketing to the Scottish, UK and European Parliaments.
|