Top Marketing Honour for Wittenborg's Emad Tariq

07.08.2026

Tariq Receives the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM)

Emad Tariq, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, has been awarded the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) (FCIM), the institute's highest level of professional recognition.

Fellowship is awarded to senior marketers who demonstrate sustained impact, expertise and leadership within the industry while making a significant long-term contribution to the marketing profession.

The recognition acknowledges Tariq's extensive career across international marketing, business leadership and higher education.

For Tariq, the fellowship represents the culmination of a journey spanning both industry and academia. After nearly two decades in industry, Tariq made the decision to transition into academia, a move he believes was the right one.

Before entering academia, Tariq worked in a range of marketing and management roles across multiple countries. His career progressed from media planning and advertising into strategic marketing and business leadership positions. At one stage, he led a team of almost 80 employees for a Dutch company in Amsterdam, overseeing areas including marketing, sales, finance and logistics.

After completing an MBA at Rotterdam School of Management, he pursued a PhD in digital marketing in the UK.

Bringing Industry Experience into the Classroom

Tariq believes his industry background continues to shape his approach to teaching and research.

"The industry experience helped me a lot in my teaching and research," he said. "Universities increasingly value academics who understand the realities of industry and can help students develop the skills employers are looking for."

In 2021, he joined Wittenborg as Assistant Professor, teaching Digital Marketing and Media Analytics while supervising master's students. Since then, he has continued teaching modules in Apeldoorn while remaining involved in student supervision and research activities.

For Tariq, practical learning is essential in today's rapidly changing marketing landscape.

"Students don't just want slides and theories. They want real industry examples, real case studies, and an understanding of what happens in organisations. That's how we help improve employability and prepare graduates for the workplace."

His teaching technique emphasises integrating industry into academic theories, helping students connect classroom learning with real-world business challenges.

From Assistant Professor to Associate Professor

The FCIM recognition follows another significant milestone in Tariq's career. In June 2026, he was promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Applied Sciences.

According to Tariq, this progression is one of the most challenging steps within academia.

"The hardest step in academia is moving from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor," he said. "It requires sustained work in teaching, research and academic contribution over several years."

Reflecting on both milestones, Tariq described the fellowship as the achievement of a long-term professional goal.

"The fellowship represents an achievement of a major objective after years of hard work in both industry and academia. It is a very valuable recognition."

Looking Ahead

While celebrating the fellowship, Tariq remains focused on future ambitions. A key priority is expanding international research collaboration and strengthening the practical impact of academic research on industry.

He is currently involved in research projects exploring the relationship between digital marketing analytics, project management effectiveness and organisational behaviour, including collaborations with colleagues at Wittenborg and partner institutions abroad.

"I aim to increase research collaboration and improve the impact on industries," he said. "Research should address real challenges of organisations, professionals, and society, and find solutions."

Alongside these research ambitions, Tariq is working towards a full professorship in his career.