TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 21, 2026--
The Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) today announced the co-chairs for this year’s CMA Awards: Nuno Bamberg, senior vice-president, brand and marketing at Sleep Country Canada Inc. and Nancy Crimi-Lamanna, chief creative officer at TBWACanada. Both bring immense industry expertise to lead this year’s celebration of marketing excellence, as the CMA also introduces four new categories reflecting the industry landscape.
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“Marketing plays a vital role in contributing to our economy, our society and our culture, and excellence in marketing deserves to be recognized. I’m delighted to welcome Nuno and Nancy as co-chairs for this year’s CMA Awards. Their leadership, expertise and passion truly reflect the values of our industry, and the CMA’s mission to elevate marketing,” said Esther Benzie, president and CEO of the CMA. “I’m also excited to introduce a new discipline and four new featured awards that shine a spotlight on the incredible work happening across Canadian marketing.”
Bamberg is a brand strategist known for reshaping some of Canada’s most recognizable brands through an entrepreneurial and insight-driven approach. As senior vice-president of brand and marketing at Sleep Country Canada, he leads brand strategy and marketing across a multi-brand portfolio including Sleep Country, Casper and Endy, with a focus on strengthening customer connection and supporting long-term growth. He is known for pairing commercial clarity with a people-first approach. Under his leadership, the company earned national recognition as Brand of the Year in 2025, marking a significant milestone in its brand transformation.
“The CMA Awards are an opportunity to recognize the work that is shaping the future of marketing and driving meaningful business impact,” said Bamberg. “I’m honoured to help celebrate the talent and ideas pushing the industry forward.”
Crimi-Lamanna is a globally recognized creative leader known for translating brand purpose into impactful ideas, products and experiences. As chief creative officer at TBWACanada, she has played a key role in elevating the agency’s creative reputation, contributing to its recognition on the global stage and across major industry awards. Her work spans integrated campaigns, digital innovation and brand storytelling, with a focus on creating ideas that drive both cultural relevance and business impact.
“Having served on juries, panels and advisory boards, being chosen as a co-chair for the CMA Awards is both exciting and meaningful,” said Crimi-Lamanna. “It’s an exciting time in Canadian marketing as new technologies and evolving platforms continue to reshape how brands connect with audiences and bring ideas to life.”
New awards reflect an evolving marketing landscape
For the first time, the CMA Awards will include sponsorship as a dedicated signature award discipline. Sponsorship has evolved into one of the most strategic and measurable pillars of modern marketing. While elements of sponsorship appear across multiple disciplines, including brand building, customer experience and shopper marketing, engagement and PR, there has historically been no dedicated discipline. The addition recognizes sophisticated, multi-channel programs that drive brand affinity, community impact and business outcomes, and ensures the CMA Awards reflect the full breadth of contemporary marketing excellence in Canada.
Along with the new discipline, this year’s ceremony will also include four new featured award categories:
Each year, the CMA Awards show honours marketing professionals who have set new standards and created award-winning campaigns that have made a lasting impact in their respective industries. This year's CMA Awards will be presented at Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle on November 13, 2026.
Judging applications are now open, with a deadline of June 11, 2026. Entries for the 2026 CMA Awards will open April 27. As well, $10 from each signature award entry will go towards a donation to National Advertising Benevolence Society (NABS), supporting people in the Canadian marketing community with wellness and career support. Additional information on important dates can be found here: https://thecma.ca/awards/2026-important-dates.
About Nuno Bamberg
Senior vice-president, brand and marketing at Sleep Country Canada Inc.
Nuno Bamberg is a business builder and brand strategist who has reshaped some of Canada’s well-known brands through his entrepreneurial vision and mindset. As senior vice-president of brand and marketing at Sleep Country Canada, he oversees the company’s full multi-brand portfolio. His work focuses on building an insight-led, modern marketing engine that strengthens customer connection and supports long-term growth.
Nuno has more than 20 years of experience across brand strategy, marketing, creative leadership and commercial management. Prior to Sleep Country Canada, he spent nearly a decade at Publicis Groupe Canada, where he built and led The Pub, the company’s content and creative production division.
Under his leadership at Sleep Country, Bamberg led a significant brand transformation, with the company named Strategy Magazine’s 2025 Brand of the Year, marking its first appearance in the ranking and reflecting its evolution into a more modern, culturally relevant brand.
About Nancy Crimi-Lamanna
Chief creative officer at TBWACanada
Nancy Crimi-Lamanna is a globally recognized creative leader who has helped lead the creative resurgence of TBWACanada (formerly FCB Canada), elevating its position on the global stage.
Under her leadership, TBWACanada has received major industry recognition, including North American Network of the Year at the Cannes Lions for seven consecutive years, Adweek’s Global Agency of the Year and top honours at the One Show, Effies and WARC. Her work has been presented to the United Nations and includes several Canadian-first Cannes Lions wins.
Crimi-Lamanna is known for pushing creative boundaries, with work that has helped position TBWACanada as a leader in digital and creative commerce. She is also an active industry leader, serving on international juries including Cannes Lions, Clios and D&AD and contributing to advisory boards and initiatives supporting the next generation of creative talent.
About the Canadian Marketing Association
The CMA is the voice of marketing in Canada, and our purpose is to champion marketing’s powerful impact. We are the catalyst to help Canada’s marketers thrive today, while building the marketing mindset and environment of tomorrow.
We provide opportunities for our members from coast to coast to develop professionally, to contribute to marketing thought leadership, to build strong networks, and to strengthen the regulatory climate for business success. Our Chartered Marketer (CM) designation signifies that recipients are highly qualified and up to date with best practices, as reflected in the Canadian Marketing Code of Ethics and Standards. We represent virtually all of Canada’s major business sectors, and all marketing disciplines, channels and technologies. We advocate with government stakeholders, while also providing Canadian consumers with information to help them better understand their rights and obligations. For more information, visit thecma.ca.
Nancy Crimi-Lamanna, chief creative officer, TBWACanada
Nuno Bamberg, senior vice-president, brand and marketing, Sleep Country Canada Inc.
