Science & Soul of Brand Marketing Summit

Thursday, September 25

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

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

  Sydney Kaplan, Director, Content and Community – U.S. & Head of EMEA, Brand Innovators

  Ritesh Shah, SVP, Strategy & Partnerships, Brand Innovators

• 10:15 AM From Metrics to Meaning: The Future of Brand Marketing

  In an era dominated by dashboards and data points, how do marketers ensure their brand strategy goes beyond the numbers? In this keynote, Kraft Heinz explores how to connect performance metrics with real human impact, crafting marketing that drives not just KPIs but meaningful engagement and loyalty.

  Allie Keith, Global Excellence, Kraft Heinz

  Boris Nihom, Chief Executive Officer, dentsu Benelux

  Moderated by: Lucy McHenry, Director EMEA Brand Partnerships, Zefr

• 10:45 AM The Power of the Local in a Globalized World

  Global brands need to speak to consumers on a local level in order to break through culturally . This session examines how to nurture local identities while aligning with broader corporate strategy—and why localism might be the future of global marketing.

  Dorothée Gardon, Global Marketing Strategy & Integrated Media Director, IKEA

  Vincent Johnson, Strategy Director, ACE

  Emma van der Veen, Senior Global Brand Manager, Philips

  Moderated by: Sara Sihelnik, Managing Director, Client Partnerships EMEA, Quantcast

   

• 11:30 AM Creators, ROI, and the New Era of Influence

  Influencer and creator marketing have matured—but how do you measure what matters? Dive into the latest tools and methodologies for tracking ROI, optimizing partnerships, and proving the brand-building power of the creator economy.

  Ella Burgoyne, Media & Digital Manager Northern Europe, Diageo

  Wendy Linden, Associate Director Away From Home Capabilities, The Kraft Heinz Company

  Moderated by: Trevis Milton, Head of Automation and AI Solutions, Apollo Partners

   

• 12:00 PM Lunch
• 1:00 PM Full Funnel Marketing in the Brand Era

  Marketing today requires more than optimizing for conversions — it’s about building impact across the entire customer journey. Explore how brands are redefining performance marketing by blending storytelling, brand values, and long-term equity with short-term results to drive growth at every stage of the funnel.

  Gordon Black, Director Paid Media Measurement, Adidas

  Frank Jansen, Strategy Director, Denstu

  Andrew Wynd, Global Head of Media, Just Eat Takeaway.com

  Moderated by: Inam Mahmood, General Manager, EMEA, Nielsen

   

• 1:30 PM Building Brands That Last: Long-Term Thinking in a Short-Term World

  What does it take to build a brand that not only performs today but endures tomorrow? Learn frameworks and insights that balance immediate performance with strategic brand equity over time.

  Olya Dyachuk, Global Media & Data Director, The HEINEKEN Company

  Moderated by: Ollie Shipp, Brand Partnership Director, Channel Factory

• 2:00 PM Networking Break
• 2:30 PM AI and Creative Effectiveness: Partners or Opposites?

  AI is transforming how we ideate, personalize, and deliver creative—but is it making marketing more effective? This provocative session examines the role of AI in creativity and its impact on brand-building outcomes.

  Sital Banerjee, Global Head of Integrated Media, Performance Marketing & Marketing Investment Management, Lipton Teas and Infusions

  Alison Keith, Global Excellence – Media, Brand Marketing, Creativity and ROI Effectiveness, The Kraft Heinz Company

  Moderated by: Tessa Daugherty, Director, Strategic Accounts, Celtra

• 3:00 PM 2026 Outlook: Trends & Predictions

  This forward-looking session unpacks the emerging trends, technologies, and cultural forces that will shape the industry in 2026 and beyond. Hear predictions on where consumer behavior, media investment, and creative innovation are headed, and how marketers can stay ahead of the curve.

  Laura Hendricks, GM, Global Business Development, The Trade Desk

  Oliver Stratton, EMEA Sales Director, Zefr

  Moderated by: Nelleke van der Voort, Global Procurement Manager – Creative, Media & AdTech, JDE Peets

• 3:30 PM Beyond the Algorithm: Real Marketing Growth Through Core Principles

  In a landscape dominated by trends and ever-changing algorithms, sustainable marketing growth still starts with the fundamentals. This session explores how timeless principles—like knowing your audience, delivering clear value, and building trust—can outperform quick hacks and fleeting tactics. Learn how focusing on the basics can cut through the noise and drive real, long-term results.

  Neil Collins, Director, Global Disruptive Innovation, The Kraft Heinz Company

  Natasja Mooij, Head of Strategic Operations EMEA, Bayer

  Moderated by: Sara Sihelnik, Client Partnerships Director, Quantcast

• 4:00 PM Closing Remarks and Wrap