Havas, Group M, Google Leaders to Tackle Future of Industry in ad:tech Debate

LONDON, September 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

A year of intense agency consolidation and shifting media spend is the topic of a free closing keynote panel debate at ad:tech London on 12 September.

Havas Media Global CEO Alfonso Rodes, Group M EMEA CEO Dominic Grainger, Google EMEA Agencies MD Mark Howe and UBS Lead Analyst for Advertising Tamsin Garrity will join Media Week Editor and Campaign Media Editor Arif Durrani in a discussion on how migrating advertising spend and agency M&A activity is changing the complexion of the industry.

The debate is hard-on-the-heels of Dentsu's $5 billion acquisition of Aegis in March and the proposed Omnicom-Publicis merger - seen by many analysts and commentators as a defensive move against the rising power of media owners like Google and Facebook.

"Our brand, agency and publisher delegates have a shared interest in how media, consumer and technology change is driving advertising spend and industry consolidation, says James Drake-Brockman, ad:tech's Head of EMEA.

"The panel is the perfect way to close the show and will offer a preview of what to expect in 2014, which, like the last 12 months, is expected to bring considerable industry upheaval," he added.

The session is the culmination of ad:tech London's free headline programme which features speakers including Unilever SVP Global Media Luis Di Como, British Gas Commercial & Marketing Director Will Orr, AKQA Co-Founder James Hilton, WPP Digital CEO Mark Read, new Facebook EMEA Director  James Quarles and BBC Worldwide VP Strategy Tom Bowman.

Running alongside the headline programme are 8 pay-to-attend Summits on Multichannel, Content & Social, Real-Time, Video, Data, Mobile, Future Media & Technology and Search featuring more than 70 speakers from companies including, Heineken, Bacardi, Lego, Tesco, sky, Danone, McDonald's, Lego, Boots, Google, Spotify, Twitter, BBH, Blue State Digital, gmg, dmg, Telegraph Media Group, Channel 4, sky and ITV. Free passes include access 12 headline keynotes, 25 conference sessions and 40 practical seminars - click here to register.

More than 150 exhibitors and 7,000 brand, agency, media, technology and VC professionals will attend the two day event at London's National Hall Olympia venue, making ad:tech London the UK's largest digital marketing and media show.

Notes to Editors:

ad:tech London will take place on 11-12 September at The National Hall, Kensington Olympia.

Now in its ninth year, ad:tech London consists of an exhibition and a conference.

The free exhibition includes 40+ educational seminars and 150+ exhibitors. The paid-for conference includes keynote presentations, panel discussions and interviews in dedicated topic-specific summits.

About ad:tech

ad:tech is an interactive advertising and technology conference and exhibition - a marketplace for buying and selling, a community for networking, a forum for exchanging ideas and an opportunity for contributing to industry trends and initiatives.

Ten annual events around the world focus on top-notch education through keynote speakers, topic-driven panels and workshops as well as showcase the latest products and services to help implement new knowledge and ideas. Attendees leave ad:tech with the tools and techniques they need to compete in an ever-changing world.

For further information and to request a press pass, please contact:

Lewis Richardson t. +44(0)20-3615-0288
PR and Marketing Assistant
[email protected]

SOURCE ad:tech London