Line//Up
What Sets Us Apart: our inaugural MAD//UpNorth theme
Something big is brewing UpNorth. A force in the global marketing and advertising industry to challenge the status quo is taking shape. A booming ecosystem, collaborative business culture + specialisms in areas such as retail, D2C, travel, sport, media/entertainment, content creation, tech + fashion are building strength, scale + expertise to put the north on a global stage.
But as marketers battle to engage consumers, drive growth + adapt to emerging trends, what is it that sets us apart as individuals, businesses + as an industry? How can we be distinctive, daring + different? What are we going to do to win hearts, minds + trust in an increasingly messy marketing + consumer environment?
New for 2025, MAD//UpNorth is here to celebrate the pioneering people, brands + businesses UpNorth who are shaping a thriving, dynamic + cooperative marketing scene across the north.
You'll be inspired by the big brands + disruptors who are making a difference.
You'll discover the innovators who are shaking things up + taking on the household names.
You'll meet the community of movers + shakers who are creating a future that truly sets the north apart.
Stages
150 speakers, 3 stages, 2 days - not a dull panel in sight. Expect a punchy no BS programme of quickfire keynotes, £20k innovation pitches + masterclasses from top CMOs, entrepreneurs + challengers with trademark MAD//Fest panaché. Here’s how our stages line-up:
Big stage action as top brands, founders, agency A-listers + innovators offer inspiration + insight on ‘What sets us apart’ (our ‘25 theme - read all about it here)
Join cutting-edge creatives, content creators, social superstars, media owners, pioneering platforms + creative technologists for the inside-track on how to cut through, influence consumer choices + push the boundaries of what’s possible.
The place to explore the latest media trends, campaigns that turn the dial, and the emerging innovation that’s changing the game.
THEMES + HOT TOPICS
Want to see real brand challenges addressed by the hottest start-ups/scale-ups? Don’t miss our LIVE £20k brand challenges taking place on thematically relevant stages throughout the course of the event!
SPEAKERS
Jessica Myers
// Chief Customer Officer, The Very Group
Jessica Myers
// Chief Customer Officer, The Very Group
Kenyatte Nelson
// Chief Membership & Customer Officer, Co-op
Kenyatte Nelson
// Chief Membership & Customer Officer, Co-op
Jennifer English
// Global Brand Director, Johnnie Walker
Jennifer English
// Global Brand Director, Johnnie Walker
John Roberts
// CEO and Founder, AO World
John Roberts
// CEO and Founder, AO World
Sacha Lord
// Co-Founder, Warehouse Project/Parklife + Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester
Sacha Lord
// Co-Founder, Warehouse Project/Parklife + Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester
Michelle Spillane
// Managing Director, Paddy Power
Michelle Spillane
// Managing Director, Paddy Power
Rory Sutherland
// Vice Chairman, Ogilvy UK
Rory Sutherland
// Vice Chairman, Ogilvy UK
Adam Zavalis
// CMO, Asda
Adam Zavalis
// CMO, Asda
Pete Markey
// CMO, Boots
Pete Markey
// CMO, Boots
Aaron Fairweather
// Culture Marketing - Music & Artist Specialist, Redbull
Aaron Fairweather
// Culture Marketing - Music & Artist Specialist, Redbull
Lucy Henderson
// Marketing Director, Irn-Bru
Lucy Henderson
// Marketing Director, Irn-Bru
Sabrina Godden-Tuma
// Global Creative Director, Vodafone
Sabrina Godden-Tuma
// Global Creative Director, Vodafone
Dom Dwight
// Strategy + Innovation Director, Taylors of Harrogate
Dom Dwight
// Strategy + Innovation Director, Taylors of Harrogate
Rachel Kerrone
// Brand and Marketing Director, Starling Bank
Rachel Kerrone
// Brand and Marketing Director, Starling Bank
Sam Walker
// Group Marketing and Creative Director, N Brown
Sam Walker
// Group Marketing and Creative Director, N Brown
Jayne Andrews
// Marketing Director, Fentimans
Jayne Andrews
// Marketing Director, Fentimans
Jemma Haley
// Business Lead - Retail Media + Supplier Insights, John Lewis & Partners
Jemma Haley
// Business Lead - Retail Media + Supplier Insights, John Lewis & Partners
Dean Harris
// Head of Co-op Media Network, Co-op
Dean Harris
// Head of Co-op Media Network, Co-op
Roger Wade
// Founder, Boxpark + Chair, Box Fund
Roger Wade
// Founder, Boxpark + Chair, Box Fund
Nancy Dales
// Brand Director, Kopparberg
Nancy Dales
// Brand Director, Kopparberg
Danny Micklethwaite
// CMO, Arla Foods
Danny Micklethwaite
// CMO, Arla Foods
Richard Bowden
// Marketing Director UK + I, Boots No.7
Richard Bowden
// Marketing Director UK + I, Boots No.7
Amanda Jennings (AJ)
// Director of Marketing Communications, Co-op
Amanda Jennings (AJ)
// Director of Marketing Communications, Co-op
Cara Chambers
// CMO, C&C Group
Cara Chambers
// CMO, C&C Group
Lorraine Rothwell
// Marketing Director, Weetabix
Lorraine Rothwell
// Marketing Director, Weetabix
Phil Jackson
// Global Digital Marketing Effectiveness Innovation Director, Haleon
Phil Jackson
// Global Digital Marketing Effectiveness Innovation Director, Haleon
Sherice Anibaba
// Brand Director, Greene King
Sherice Anibaba
// Brand Director, Greene King
Nick Bamber
// Director of Digital, Domino's
Nick Bamber
// Director of Digital, Domino's
Sara Holt
// Group Marketing Director (UK + Europe), Merlin Entertainments
Sara Holt
// Group Marketing Director (UK + Europe), Merlin Entertainments
Zoe Harris
// CMO, On The Beach
Zoe Harris
// CMO, On The Beach
Ben Kaluza
// Content Creator
Ben Kaluza
// Content Creator
Charlotte Lock
// CMO, John Lewis Partnership
Charlotte Lock
// CMO, John Lewis Partnership
Simon Lloyd
// Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Brand, Digital & AI Transformation, NED + Marketing Week Top 100, Campaign Power 100
Simon Lloyd
// Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Brand, Digital & AI Transformation, NED + Marketing Week Top 100, Campaign Power 100
Peter Grant
// Head of Media Effectiveness, Boots
Peter Grant
// Head of Media Effectiveness, Boots
Emma Hillary
// Consultant, The Client Relationship Consultancy
Emma Hillary
// Consultant, The Client Relationship Consultancy
Richard Cristofoli
// Chief Customer Officer, Freemans Grattan Holdings
Richard Cristofoli
// Chief Customer Officer, Freemans Grattan Holdings
Jon Kell
// Global Marketing Director, Yoto
Jon Kell
// Global Marketing Director, Yoto
Tom Goulden
// Digital Trading, Insights and Analytics Director, The Very Group
Tom Goulden
// Digital Trading, Insights and Analytics Director, The Very Group
Katie Kinchin-Smith
// Head of Brand, The Very Group
Katie Kinchin-Smith
// Head of Brand, The Very Group
Angela Cameron
// Brand Director, Mars
Angela Cameron
// Brand Director, Mars
Lucy Howdle
// Marketing Innovation Director, Rexona/Sure
Lucy Howdle
// Marketing Innovation Director, Rexona/Sure
Mark Brown
// CMO, Hovis
Mark Brown
// CMO, Hovis
Madeline Shaw
// Marketing Director, Pets At Home
Madeline Shaw
// Marketing Director, Pets At Home
Ian Maybank
// Head of Connections Planning, Media, and Insights, Specsavers
Ian is currently responsible for communications strategy, marketing planning, and consumer insights for Specsavers. He has a had a varied career working for leading brands, creative and media agencies. Ian’s agency career spanned senior client service roles at Grey, RKCR/YR, and Dentsu. Moving brand side 2016 he joined PepsiCo to lead digital and media for their European snack business, before a 2 year stint working in the beverages across Pepsi, 7UP, and Rockstar. In 2019 he was integral to reuniting Walkers Crisps with The Spice Girls.
Sam Dolan
// Founder, Jazz Hands
Sam Dolan
// Founder, Jazz Hands
Christian Stindt
// Marketing Director, Jägermeister
Christian Stindt
// Marketing Director, Jägermeister
Terri Cooper
// Marketing Director, Aqua Pura
Terri Cooper
// Marketing Director, Aqua Pura
Joe Harper
// Global Head of Content, Diageo
Joe Harper
// Global Head of Content, Diageo
DJ Hooky (Peter Hook)
DJ Hooky (Peter Hook)
Oliver Yonchev
// Founder, cocreatd
Oliver Yonchev
// Founder, cocreatd
The programme is currently in production - subscribe here for speaker alerts + more!
Got an idea for a content session that’ll wow the masses of marketers? Throw your hat in the ring using the form below + we’ll be in touch! Or contact luke@madfestlondon.com
Agenda
Wanna be the first to see the agenda?
Brand challenges
Want to see big brand challenges solved in real time by the most exciting marketing/advertising start-ups/scale-ups? Then you’ll love our Brand Challenge format!
We’ll be taking £20k pilot briefs from some of the world’s top brands + giving pioneering start-ups/scale-ups the platform to pitch their solution + secure a new client.
Not only do our brand challenges result in successful partnerships, they also provide a tangible, relatable stream of content where client-side marketers + agencies can see how top brands are investing in innovation to respond to everyday marketing issues.
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