Facebook's David Lawenda, U.S. Global Marketing Solutions Chief, To Keynote Inaugural Digital Entertainment World

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Entertainment World (DEW), the global event marketplace for digital executives focused on the complete digital content ecosystem, today announced that Facebook Head of U.S. Global Marketing Solutions David Lawenda will open the event on February 18 with a one-on-one keynote conversation moderated by Adweek Digital Editor Mike Shields.

Lawenda, formerly head of ad sales and marketing for Univision, is the latest addition to DEW's previously announced keynote lineup for the three-day event held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. In addition to Lawenda, other keynote speakers include UTA CEO and Co-Founder Jeremy Zimmer, Electronic Arts COO Peter Moore and Rick Cotton, NBC Universal's lead IP protection counselor. An additional keynote speaker will be announced prior to the event.

During his 30-minute keynote conversation, Lawenda will address how Facebook is working with some of the biggest brands in the entertainment industry to help them reach and engage with new audiences at scale. Additionally, he will discuss how Facebook is helping brands monetize and measure content, as well as entertainment experiences.

Lawenda joins a growing list of industry leaders from top digital entertainment brands participating in DEW, including Netflix, Twitter, YouTube, Yahoo!, Ogilvy, Xbox, Playstation, OMD, ABC, CBS, NBCU, Roc Nation, Electus, American Express, Rovi, CAA, Hearst, CNN, Disney, HFA, Manatt, ESPN, Machinima, Maker Studios, Warner Bros. and IDG Ventures, among others.

"David has a remarkable breadth of understanding of the digital and traditional media worlds," said Ned Sherman, CEO of Digital Media Wire and Advisory Board Chair (Co-Creator with IDG World Expo Chief Executive Officer Mary Dolaher) of DEW.  "He's charged with demonstrating the power of Facebook to some of the biggest brands and advertisers in the world, and we look forward to hearing his unique perspective on the ongoing evolution of the media ecosystem." 

DEW is expected to attract more than 1,000 marketing and digital executives from leading media, entertainment and digital brands, including major broadcast and cable networks, movie studios, music labels, game publishers, advertising agencies, news, magazine and book publishers, digital distribution networks and device manufacturers. It will offer more than 100 sessions during the three-day conference. The complete list of DEW speakers to date can be viewed here and the agenda here.

David Lawenda joined Facebook's Global Marketing Solutions team in 2013, where he oversees the U.S. sales team and marketing relationships with the country's leading brands and agencies. His focus is on growth in six key verticals: CPG/Pharma/Health Care, Automotive, Travel/Financial Services, Technology/Telecomm, Entertainment/Government, and Retail/E-commerce/Pro Serve/Restaurants.

Prior to joining Facebook, Lawenda worked at Univision, where he led a sales and marketing team of more than 1,000 people to $2.25 billion in annual revenue. He also worked for Viacom, where he helped launch and brand SpikeTV and UPN, as well for Turner Broadcasting and DDB Needham.

Mike Shields is the Digital Editor at Adweek. He has been covering the digital media space for nearly a decade, including stints at Digiday, Mediaweek and Mediapost. Prior to his journalism career, Shields spent roughly seven years in the advertising business, planning interactive media for Lowe Worldwide and traditional media for Ammirati Puris Lintas.

DEW Founding Sponsors are an impressive group of cross-industry leaders including NBCUniversal, HFA, Rovi, 3Pillar Global, Elastic Path Software, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Watchwith, RSG Media, Interpret, Rixty, Vubiquity, Ensequence, hybris, BlueSnap, YUME, Rackspace, Crunch Digital, Venable, Mass Relevance, IDG Ventures, LyricFind, Vindicia, Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office and NPD Group. The complete list of DEW sponsors to date can be viewed here.

Digital Entertainment World is a joint venture of IDG World Expo  and Digital Media Wire.

SOURCE IDG World Expo