Citing her work to reinvigorate ConAgra Foods' brands, Brandweek recently honored Joan Chow, ConAgra's executive vice president and chief marketing officer, as one of the magazine's 12 annual "Marketers of the Year."

Brandweek, a Nielsen Business Media title, is profiling honorees in print and online editions and will host a special dinner reception in New York City.

Editors said Chow was selected for her ability to take a "number of trusty-if-tired brands and put them back on a growth track." The magazine added that "while other companies have driven their marketing departments to chase fads, Chow's aim has been to take what already works and make it better."

Chow joined ConAgra in 2007 after serving in a similar senior marketing role at Sears, Roebuck & Co.

"Being selected as a 'Marketer of the Year' by Brandweek is a tremendous honor -- both for Joan Chow and ConAgra Foods," said Gary Rodkin, ConAgra's CEO. "As a company, we're focused on making the brands consumers love -- brands like Orville Redenbacher's, Healthy Choice, Hunt's, Banquet and Chef Boyardee, to name a few -- and using insights to market them successfully to consumers. We've raised the bar on our marketing efforts and this recognition is a testament to how far we've come under Joan's leadership. Congratulations to her and all the other winners."

Said Brandweek Editor-in-Chief Todd Wasserman, "If making the sale were that easy, we'd have 1,200 marketers of the year instead of just 12. "Marketing is hard, especially today."