Like most of those I have spoken to recently, there seems to be an air of 'conference fatigue' setting in. I for one am not immune to this affliction.  The good news is that I have the cure, and it comes in the form of MAD//Fest. (The clue is in the title) a truly unique approach to events in the format of the UK’s most desirable industry festival, we don’t use the 'C'onference word here at MF HQ.  So, it’s goodbye to curly sandwiches and hello to Dishoom & Stiks ‘n’ Sushi and Heineken!

The question remains, where better to spend your valuable time than listening too and meeting with industry thought leaders who want nothing more than to share with you how they have, not just addressed common challenges, but have learned to thrive within todays fragile ecosystem? The answer will always be, the DigiAds Stage at MAD//Fest. So, what have we got in store for you this year?

We have produced a line up of speakers to address: Responsible Media, Retail Media and CTV across 2 days. 

The 4th of July marks a key moment in history, being that it is the first day of DigiAds at MAD//Fest and we launch into Responsible Media with an Agency Keynote from Laura Wade, EssenceMediacom’s Global VP of Sustainability Strategy and winner of the IAB’s Outstanding Contribution to the Digital Advertising Industry 2023.  

Following Laura, we have Jerry Daykin of Beam Suntory taking to the stage and giving a tour de force. How can someone follow that, well Hannah Mirza of The Responsible Media Agency will try as she chairs a panel challenging us to consider, are underrepresented voices getting enough of our advertising spend? Be inspired by a heady mix of global brands, agencies, independents and associations including an exclusive announcement by Andrew Sussman, founder and CCO of The Institute of Advertising Ethics (Spoiler alert: you’re going to want to attend this session in order to take advantage of his exclusive offer to his audience!).

We are delighted to be joined by Havas who will be broadcasting their Meaningful Media Podcast live from the stage as we transition from Responsible to Retail Media.

Last year's DigiAds Stage played to a packed audience

Our Retail Media segment runs across both days, 4 and 5 July.  The content for this section is not to be missed, Mars, Boots, Merkle close day one and to open up day two, we have Uber, Asos, Dunhumby, and Circana, with Ian Whittaker to provide the cherry on the icing of this delicious cake with his unique assessment of Retail Media.

We close Day Two by moving to CTV, Paul Gubbins, (CTV Influencer,) chairs a panel that will look back over the questions he posed at last years event to measure how far this channel has matured, with speakers such as Rhys MacLachlan of ITV, Hayley Cochrance, NBCUniversal, Rakuten and Warner Bros Discovery, Kargo, Finecast and more, we will leave no stone unturned in the quest for knowledge, recommendations and all the tools that you need to be successful in your roles.    

In this moment I want to shamelessly steal a quote from Eddie Mora “I don’t have delusions of Grandeur; I have the recipe!” DigiAds at MAD//Fest welcomes its returning audience, new faces and speakers who provide content crafted to inform and inspire and invite you to join us at an event unlike any other.

Expected to attract 10,000+ marketers and named ‘Event of the Year’ at the UK Event Awards, MAD//Fest London speakers include Tesco Chief Customer Officer Alessandra Bellini, Castore Founder Thomas Beahon and Ben & Jerry’s Director of Global Activism Christoper Miller, LIPTON Global Chief Marketing + Digital Officer Aparna Sundaresh, Co-op Chief Customer Officer Kenyatte Nelson and S4 Executive Chairman Sir Martin Sorrell.

Click here to secure your ticket.