The Chartered Institute of Marketing and Zambia Institute of Marketing Announce Partnership

• The Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Zambia Institute of Marketing have formed a strategic alliance to advance the marketing profession in both the United Kingdom and Zambia.
• This partnership will offer numerous benefits to marketers in both regions, including improved access to professional development opportunities.
• ZIM, together with CIM’s other international partners, will recognise and adopt the Global Professional Marketing Framework.

13th August 2025: The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at benefiting marketers in the United Kingdom and Zambia, while advancing the marketing profession in both regions.

The partnership, which commenced in June, will see CIM and ZIM collaborate to design programmes that will support the development and the mobility of the sector, providing marketers in the two regions with enhanced access to resources, connections and development opportunities.

As part of the agreement, both organisations will promote an aligned pathway for professionals in the sector to obtain membership with CIM and ZIM. They will also develop a framework to harmonise qualifications where feasible, creating pathways for professional marketers to gain entry and/or receive exemptions from qualifications offered by either institution.

CIM and ZIM have agreed to explore and identify synergies between their respective academy awards through curriculum mapping exercises. This collaboration aims to create opportunities to recognise professional excellence in marketing and establish clear pathways to qualifications and awards.

In addition to CIM’s other international partners, ZIM will disseminate research in collaboration with CIM and support events that serve the interests of both organisations.

GPMF and The Marketing Club

ZIM will also formally recognise CIM’s Global Professional Marketing Framework (GPMF), which establishes the criteria for becoming a competent, proficient, and relevant marketer, thereby setting a global standard for marketing professionals to uphold. Additionally, full-time marketing students across Zambia will gain access to CIM’s Marketing Club, an international community offering valuable resources and insights to support their professional development and facilitate the launch of their careers in marketing.

CIM and ZIM's comments following partnership announcement

Commenting on the partnership, Chris Daly, Chief Executive of CIM, stated: "We are pleased to announce our alliance with the Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM), reaffirming our commitment to promoting excellence and best practices in marketing on a global scale. Together, we are dedicated to supporting and enhancing the skills of marketers in both the United Kingdom and Zambia, building upon the solid foundation established through our existing strategic partnership with the African Marketing Confederation (AMC)."

"Our shared message to marketers is clear: we are here to support you at every stage of your career. The Marketing Club, which has already benefited many eligible junior marketers, will continue to assist aspiring professionals entering the industry. Furthermore, the development and networking opportunities arising from this partnership will empower marketers to continually reskill and upskill in an ever-evolving sector."

Danny Chanda, ZIM CEO, commented: "We are proud to secure our partnership with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, which will richly benefit aspiring and professional marketers here in Zambia. This partnership will allow both organisations to share knowledge, research, innovative ideas and support events, whilst also advancing the marketing profession in both regions by providing enhanced access to resources and creating a framework to align qualifications."

"At ZIM, we put best practice at the forefront of what we do and that’s why we are delighted to adopt CIM's Global Professional Marketing Framework, which will promote high standards in our region. We look forward to witnessing the value that the GPMF and this strategic partnership will provide to our marketers in Zambia."

If you would like to elevate your marketing career, why not review our training courses, qualifications or speak to our membership team: membership@cim.co.uk.  

For more information regarding The Marketing Club: themarketingclub@cim.co.uk.

-ENDS-

For media enquiries 
For further media information please contact the Chartered Institute of Marketing press office at Good Relations on CIMTeam@goodrelations.co.uk.  

For CIM media enquiries 
James Delves  
Head of PR and External Affairs, CIM 
James.Delves@cim.co.uk 

For ZIM media enquiries 
Inonge Chabala
Education Manager, ZIM
education@zimmarketing.org.zm

About CIM 
For over 100 years, CIM has been the universal voice of marketing, championing our industry and its positive impact on organisations, economies and the wider society. Today, we play a more significant role than ever in supporting, developing and representing our members and the profession around the world. Always on top of the latest developments, we offer inspiring insights and thought leadership to generate transformative discussion and ideas.

On an individual level, marketers at every stage of their career find us a trusted and people-centred provider of clear guidance, training and professional qualifications – especially on their path to being accredited as a Chartered Marketer. If it carries a CIM stamp, it’s taken seriously: proof of the essential skills that boost long-term success for any business.

We’re at the forefront of all that’s exciting about marketing. Our services build careers and boost businesses. We continue to speak out for our industry, working alongside like-minded organisations to bring on the latest generations of talent and set professional standards for the entire marketing ecosystem. Find out more about CIM by visiting www.cim.co.uk.   

About ZIM
The Zambia Institute of Marketing is a professional marketing Institution that was established by an Act of Parliament No. 2 of 2022 to regulate, promote, uphold and improve the standards of training, practice and professional competence of persons and organisations engaged in marketing and advertising in Zambia.

The Institute is also the sole examiner and certifier of the ZIM Professional Diploma in Marketing and the ZIM Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing in Zambia. The Institute is affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and the Minister of the said Ministry serves as Patron.

Our mission is to regulate the standards of marketing practice through marketing information, dissemination, education and interaction for the fulfilment of all stakeholders’ aspirations and needs.

Find out more about ZIM by visiting: www.zimmarketing.org.zm