Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends announces 2025 Marketer-on-the-Rise
Michael Forsyth recognized for progressive marketing at PepsiCo
TORONTO, March 31, 2025 — Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends is proud to announce Michael Forsyth, Marketing Director, Potato Brands at PepsiCo Foods Canada, as the 2025 Marketer-on-the-Rise.
The Marketer-on-the-Rise award celebrates Canada’s top up-and-comers — the next generation of influential marketing leaders. The award recognizes emerging professionals who are making meaningful contributions to the field through creativity, leadership, and community involvement.
“Michael Forsyth exemplifies the next generation of marketing leadership,” says Olga Pigeon, president of AMA Toronto. “In addition to building powerful brands, Michael is committed to uplifting others through community involvement. Her achievements reflect the values of Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends, and we’re proud to recognize her as this year’s Marketer-on-the-Rise.”
With a decade of experience at PepsiCo, Michael Forsyth has helped lead the growth of some of the country’s most iconic food brands, including Lay’s, Ruffles, Doritos and Quaker. Her work has included launching new brand platforms, high-profile Super Bowl campaigns and award-winning collaborations that have strengthened brand presence and consumer engagement, particularly among Gen Z audiences.
“As someone who strives to make an impact, being selected as the 2025 Marketer-On-The-Rise is incredibly humbling and gratifying,” says Forsyth. “This recognition is validation that I’m on the right path, and fuels me even further in the pursuit of creating more ambitious, consumer-loved work!”
Beyond the boardroom, Michael is committed to mentorship and inclusion. She actively supports female entrepreneurs through the Stacy’s Rise Project, serves as a judge for the Canadian Marketing League and has led workshops for marketing students at McMaster University.
Michael will be recognized alongside this year’s inductees into Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends on May 9 at an exclusive gala celebrating the people, brands and stories behind some of our country’s greatest marketing achievements.
The Marketer-on-the-Rise recipient was carefully chosen from this year’s nominations by a 15-person selection committee made up of a distinguished and diverse group of marketing experts, including Marketing Legends, brand and agency leaders. The selection committee was chaired by David Pullara, a marketing consultant and long-time member of AMA Toronto’s Advisory Council.
“Supporting the Marketer-on-the-Rise award allows us to proudly celebrate and elevate new voices in our industry,” say Sharifa Khan, CEO and founder of Balmoral Multicultural Marketing, a 2021 inductee into Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends and a member of the 2025 selection committee. “Canada’s best young marketers – making their name as entrepreneurs, innovators, disruptors and digital influencers — need to be acknowledged and encouraged to inspire and empower others.”
Balmoral Multicultural Marketing, Canada’s most established, authentic, and awarded multicultural marketing agency, is the 2025 presenting sponsor of Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends. AMA Toronto partners that also support Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends include Stonehenge Digital Studios, the Globe Media Group and Score Promotions.
Michael Forsyth is the 30th recipient of this honour, joining a growing list of emerging marketing leaders across Canada. Last year’s winners were Tyler and Braden Handley, co-founders of Inkbox, a pioneering temporary tattoo brand that redefined the intersection of art and self-expression.
About the Marketer-on-the-Rise Award
Introduced in 2012 as part of Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends program, the Marketer-on-the-Rise award recognizes early-career marketing professionals with approximately 10 years of industry experience who are making meaningful contributions through creativity, leadership and community engagement.
About Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends
Since 2004, Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends has honoured inspiring Canadian leaders who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of excellence in marketing. Created to spotlight the stories, people and brands behind Canada’s greatest marketing successes, Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends recognizes noteworthy bodies of work, a lifetime of achievements and leadership, including contributions that have made our community a better place.
About AMA Toronto
AMA Toronto is a community of volunteer marketers who have been empowering leadership and business growth in Canada for more than 70 years. With more than 30,000 members and 70 chapters across North America, the AMA is the largest not-for-profit marketing association in the world and serves organizations and individuals who practice, teach and study marketing.
For further information or interviews, please contact:
Robert MacLean, VP, Public Relations, AMA Toronto,
[email protected], (416) 817-4259
Fatemah Asgari, Manager, Public Relations, AMA Toronto,
[email protected]