Regional Summits

AI & Marketing Innovation Summit

Apr 14 • Hosted by WPP Media • New York

AI is transforming how brands create, connect, and engage with audiences. The AI & Marketing Innovation Summit brings together senior marketers and creative leaders to explore how artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and innovative strategies are reshaping marketing. The day will focus on using AI to activate communities, enhance personalization, drive fan engagement, and unlock new growth opportunities while staying culturally relevant and creatively bold. Participants will hear practical examples, forward-thinking strategies, and insights into how technology can amplify creativity without replacing the human touch.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

9:00 AM Breakfast & Registration
10:00 AM Welcome Remarks

Brandon Gutman, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Brand Innovators

Marc Sternberg, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Brand Innovators

Gisela Germano, Chief Content & Community Officer, Brand Innovators

Allie Meagher, Vice President, Content and Community, Brand Innovators

Emcee: Ken Wheaton, Group Director, Thought Leader, WPP Media
10:10 AM Fireside Chat

Martin Blich, Executive Director and U.S. Head of Sports Partnerships & Investment, WPP Media

Moderated by: Zach Alter, Director, Strategic Accounts & Agency Development, Acast
10:40 AM Community-Driven Product and Campaign Innovation

Folasade Onadiji, Global Marketing TYLENOL, Kenvue

Grace Pai-Leonard, Head of Brand, New York Life Investments

Moderated by: Beatriz Ribeiro, Senior Vice President of Client Success, Mediaprobe
11:10 AM From Idea to Impact: Using AI to Accelerate Innovation Across the Omni World

How AI powered tools combined with agile frameworks are transforming the journey from raw idea to fully realized multichannel activation.

Maria Adeeva, Marketing Director, Manual Toothbrush, Global Marketing, Colgate-Palmolive

James Finn, Global Head of Brand & Content Marketing, Audible

Moderated by: Myron Nilsson, President, AdPipe
11:40 AM Networking Break
12:00 PM Turning Fans into Ambassadors with AI

Ryan McBride, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Yobi

Jon Cooke, Vice President, Sales – East Coast, Ogury

Moderated by: Roderick Blaylock, Vice President, Marketing, Casamigos, Diageo
12:30 PM Innovation in Staying Relevant

Using AI to anticipate shifts in culture, consumer behavior, and audience preferences to stay ahead of the curve.

Baylie Braverman, Manager Integrated Media Planning & Strategy, Nestle Nespresso SA

Maha Khawaja, Senior Integrated Media, Nestle Nespresso

Folasade Onadiji, Global Marketing, Tylenol, Kenvue

Moderated by: Mike Bagliebter, Head of Agency, Bluefish AI
1:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM From Feature to Fundamental: Exploring the AI Transformation at Unilever

A fireside chat with one of the world’s biggest marketers and their agency partner on how a “Human-Led, AI-Powered” approach is creating more opportunities for speed, intelligence, and impact.

Dan Eckrote, President, Business & Transformation, WPP Unite

Aaron Sobol, Head of NA Media Investment and Data Governance, Unilever

Moderated by: Jeremy Greenspan, GM, Business Development, The Trade Desk
2:30 PM The New AI Toolkit: How Organizations Are Integrating and Scaling AI Solutions to Meet the Demands of Modern Marketers

With an explosion of AI tools entering the market, brands are under pressure to identify which solutions truly drive value. This conversation will explore how leading media organizations are evaluating, integrating, and scaling AI tools to drive greater results for brands and to create smarter, more efficient operations within their teams.

Pooja Chandiramani, Vice President, Global Media Strategy and Planning, Marketing Analytics, Operations and Transformation, Coach

Carly Ehrlich, Agency Development Lead, Philo

Liad Eshkar, Chief Business Development & AI Officer, Kaltura

Amanda Sheplee, Vice President of Agency Partnerships, Viant

Moderated by: Jay Altschuler, Senior Vice President, Global Media & Agency Relations, Mastercard
3:00 PM Building Brands for AI-Driven Discoverability
3:30 PM Networking Break
3:45 PM Culture and AI Innovation

Exploring how artificial intelligence helps brands identify cultural trends and insights to stay relevant and connect with key audiences.

Shamira Faruqui Amin, Senior Brand Manager Skrewball, Pernod Ricard

Vincent Fontana, Head of Product Specialist, HSBC Bank

Moderated by: Kate Turkcan, Vice President of Professional Services, BERA.ai
4:15 PM The Future of AI in Marketing Innovation

Emerging technologies, frameworks, and tools that enable smarter, faster, and more creative marketing strategies.

Jessica David, Director, Brand Management, Equinix

Joy Ogunneye, Global Innovation & Brand Comms Lead, Aveeno Body, Kenvue

Mary Teryek, Vice President of Marketing, US Consumer Division, Bausch + Lomb

Moderated by: Vanessa O’Connell, Marketing & Communications Director, Nano Interactive
4:45 PM Worldbuilding: Creation Core

15 minute Keynote & 15 minute Q&A

In the midst of media and technology disruption, brands can drive growth by focusing on foundational human needs. Explore the shift from consumption to creation for your audiences, and what it all means for marketers.

Kelly Garland Schwarte, Executive Director, Strategy, WPP Media
5:15 PM Wrap