Marketing academics from around the world came together to pay tribute to retiring Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) researcher Professor Margaret K. Hogg at a special symposium.

Current and former colleagues from the UK, Europe, Asia, North America and Australia joined Professor Hogg virtually and in person as she marked the end of an illustrious academic career spanning almost three decades.

Identity, self and consumption: How conversations have evolved, organised by The Centre for Consumption Insights and the Department of Marketing in LUMS, looked back on Professor Hogg’s career in LUMS and the Manchester School of Management (now Alliance Manchester Business School), and her contributions to the field.

Professor Maria Piacentini, one of the event organisers, said: “Margaret is a leading expert in consumer behaviour, with a long-standing interest in the relationship between identity, self and consumption. She was one of the first UK academics to attend and present at the international Association for Consumer Research conference, at which she was an active member for more than 25 years, paving the way for other UK-based academics.

“The Symposium was a lively session with contributions from friends and colleagues from around the world – a fitting celebration of Margaret’s work and service to the field of consumer research.”

Colleagues and former students – Professor Hogg supervised 15 PhD students to completion during her career, cementing her contribution to the next generation of consumer researchers – spoke in-person or via recorded messages at the event.

Professor Hogg, who has produced more than 60 publications during her career, said: “I want to thank everyone who attended the symposium, either virtually or in person, and contributed to such a memorable academic farewell for me.

“I am particularly grateful to Maria Piacentini, Sandra Awanis and Chih-Ling Liu for all the careful thought and effort that had clearly gone into reaching out to just so many of my colleagues, friends and former students in making this event happen.

“It proved to be a very emotional and touching event as I heard so many different tributes from the contributors from across my career. I really loved hearing everyone’s stories and reflections, much laughter and some tearfulness for a wonderful occasion.”

Alongside colleagues from academia, the event also played host to members of Professor Hogg’s family, including her older grandchildren Zoe (10) and Elijah (eight), who was particularly interested when reference was made to Professor Albus Dumbledore, from the Harry Potter universe.

The full list of contributors to the event is as follows:

Professor Stefano Puntoni (Rotterdam School of Management); Professor Pauline Maclaran (Royal Holloway); Dr Elfriede Penz (WU Vienna); Dr Anuja Pradhan (University of Southern Denmark); Professor Michael Solomon (Saint Joseph’s University, US); Dr Chih-Ling Liu (LUMS); Dr Teresa Davis (University of Sydney); Professor Eileen Fischer (York University, Canada); Professor Søren Askegaard (University of Southern Denmark); Dr Lampros Gkiouzepas (Hellenic Open University, Greece); Professor Russell Belk (York University, Canada); Professor Stephanie O’Donohoe (University of Edinburgh); Professor David Marshall (University of Edinburgh); Dr Tom Usslepp (LUMS); Professor Charles Cui (University of Westminster); Professor Emma Banister (University of Manchester); Dr Katerina Karanika (University of Exeter); Dr Phoebe Wong (Hong Kong Polytechnic University); Professor Ben Kerrane (Manchester Metropolitan University).

The event is available to view online here: https://youtu.be/N0AV67vb5-0