The uniqueness of these Awards lies in their modus operandi: each Brand Manager is both voter and eligible. In the first round, more than 440 Brand Managers, brought together in a grand jury, were invited to vote for their peers. At the end of this round, the ten candidates with the most votes in each category progressed to the second round, during which each juror could elect only one finalist per category.

The 2026 winners were elected in five categories: institutional; retail & hospitality; services; financial sector and Brand Manager of the Year 2026. Through this award, Paperjam and MarkCom aim to highlight the strategic excellence, creativity and capacity for innovation of marketing and communications managers from the Luxembourg breeding ground.

An evening of inspiration and celebration

Hosted by Jérôme Rudoni and Émilie Gline, the evening was punctuated by musical interludes provided by Jeff Herr, a Luxembourg drummer renowned on the European scene for his versatility, at the crossroads of jazz, pop and contemporary music, and winner of the Export Artist of the Year title in the jazz category.

Taking the floor, Patrick Lesage (MarkCom) reiterated the central role of Brand Managers: "Choice, arbitration, vision because they are the ones who give brands a soul." He also stressed the importance of the "magic triangle" formed by advertisers, agencies and the media in transforming a strategy into reality.

Tom Turping, President of MarkCom

MarkCom took advantage of the evening to announce several major developments. Starting with the appointment of Tom Turping as President of the association, with the aim of opening a new chapter. The association also announced the launch of an Open Community Pass, designed to unite all those involved in marketing and communications in Luxembourg, as well as the evolution of the Lama Academy, which is set to be reinvented to provide better support for the profession.

The 2026 prize-winners

Between prize-giving and speeches, the evening was hosted by Jérôme Rudoni and Émilie Gline, who ensured a warm atmosphere. (Photo: Jan Henrion / Paperjam)

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A double accolade for the 2026 edition, Beryl Koltz and Mathieu Rosan were awarded Brand Managers of the Year, in recognition of their long-term collective and strategic work. (Photo: Jan Henrion / Paperjam)

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Jeff Herr's performances set the tempo for an evening of sharing and inspiration. (Photo: Jan Henrion / Paperjam)

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The 2026 trophies, rewarding the strategic and creative excellence of Luxembourg's Brand Managers. (Photo: Jan Henrion / Paperjam)

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Institutional: winner - Beryl Koltz (Luxembourg - Let's Make It Happen)

Retail & Hospitality: joint winners - Clémence Perrot (Cocottes) & Stéphanie Schleich (GridX)

Services: winner - Françoise Frieden (Luxtram)

Financial sector: Winner - Fanny Schlesser (Banque Raiffeisen)

A country's brand is a special brand because it belongs to everyone.

 Beryl Koltz, Brand Promotion Manager , LuXembourg - Let's Make It Happen

Brand Manager of the Year 2026: a double crown

Notable event this year, the Brand Manager of the Year 2026 title was awarded to two winners, Beryl Koltz and Mathieu Rosan (Rockhal).

"A country's brand is a special brand because it belongs to everyone. It is a work of alignment and community, often carried out in the background", emphasised Beryl Koltz (LuXembourg - Let's make it happen), as she associated her team with this award. In the same vein, Mathieu Rosan (Rockhal) was quick to point out the collective dimension of his profession: "I'm just a representation of a collective effort. I learn from my team every day, and I'm very honoured by that."