The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has announced that four teams from universities in London have progressed to the final of The Pitch, a global student competition that challenges participants to react to a real-life marketing brief.
Now in its fifteenth year, The Pitch continues to push emerging marketing talent to think strategically. For the 2026 contest, CIM has joined forces with global brand IBM to provide students with the opportunity to gain a practical, hands-on experience – sharpening their strategic thinking and boosting their employability in an increasingly competitive job market.
Team ‘AdEd’ from King’s Business School, made up of Elliot Davey and Demir Timuray, won the undergraduate competition last year, and four more teams are hoping to bring it home for the English capital once more:
3 Marketeers – University of West London (Undergraduate)
B.A.T – University of Greenwich (Undergraduate)
METAMORPHOSIS – The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (Undergraduate)
CarbonLite Imaging – King’s College London (Postgraduate)
This year’s briefs challenge students to shape the future of AI marketing:
Undergraduate students
have been tasked with creating a bold, content-led campaign that tackles AI myths and positions IBM as the go-to expert for practical, responsible AI.
Postgraduate students
have been challenged to craft a strategic plan that establishes IBM as the global leader in ‘Green AI’ – championing a more sustainable future for artificial intelligence.
Following the announcement, Delia Mertoiu, CIM Greater London region chair, said: “We are delighted to see continued success in our region, having seen ‘AdEd’ from King’s Business School win the undergraduate competition last year. Congratulations to the four teams who have reached this year’s final, we’re backing you all the way!”
Justin Ablett, Strategic Partners Lead for UKI in IBM Consulting, commented: “We’ve been hugely impressed by the creativity, skill and passion shown by participants from around the world. On behalf of everyone at IBM, thank you for the time and effort you’ve invested. We hope the experience has been valuable for all involved, regardless of whether you’ve progressed to the final stage or not.
“Creating the shortlist was exceptionally challenging, and selecting our undergraduate and postgraduate winners in March will be no easier, but we relish the chance to see the finalists bring their ideas to life during next month’s finals.”
Océane Bax de Keating, a member of ‘007 Girls’ from Henley Business School, winners of the 2023 competition, added: “The Pitch was a real turning point in my career. It gave me the chance to challenge myself beyond the classroom and apply what I had learned in a real-world context. Taking part in the competition pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me realise the value of my ideas and perspective. It also helped me stand out during job applications and interviews, especially when talking about real-life business problem-solving.”
The undergraduate finalists will compete in a live virtual final on 10th March, followed by the postgraduate final on 11th March, where the title of ‘Marketers of the Future’ will be awarded in each category at the end of their respective finals.
Winners in each category will win a one-year complimentary CIM Affiliate Professional membership and a place on a CIM virtual e-learning course, as well as an interactive session with four IBM experts. All finalists will receive a Pitch 2026 finalist certificate.
