Boasting 800+ participants, Global Marketer Week returned in April with four live days of inspiration, discovery and learning. The industry's brightest minds gathered in Athens for unparalleled insight and thought leadership into how marketers can be a positive force for change as the world looks to build back from the pandemic.
How can different functions drive sustainability?
Conference speakers
Speakers
The conference in photos
Other speakers
Ekaterina AgafonovaEkaterinaGlobal Strategic Sourcing Director Commerce, Heineken
Arwa MahdawiWriter and brand strategist
Henry AshworthHenryPresident, International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD)
James AylettJamesChief Data Officer, Annalect
Annalisa BarbagalloAnnalisaVP Public Affairs Europe, L'Oréal
WFA's Executive Committee meets quarterly to discuss the organisation's priorities and guide WFA strategy. The Executive Committee is made up of senior corporate and national association representatives.
The AGM will WFA give members a review of the past year’s activities, challenges and major achievements.
More details on the agenda to follow.
19:00 - 23:00
SDE Cocktails & Welcome Dinner
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
By invitation only
Show more
Join us and our hosts at the Hellenic Advertisers Association for an unfortgettable dinner with a magical sea view.
Wednesday, 6 April
09:30 - 13:00
CMO Forum
NEW Hotel
WFA members only
Show more
The CMO Forum is an invitation-only event for marketing leaders. In this session, the Forum will continue its focus on marketing transformation: addressing how global marketing organisations have delivered in terms of sustainable growth. Delivering digital, creative and capability transformations to demonstrably grow the business whilst addressing the world’s ‘to do list’ outlined by the UN’s sustainable development goals.
9:00 - 15:00
Sourcing Forum
Electra Palace Athens (Alkyoni meeting room)
WFA members only
Show more
Marketing sourcing as accelerators of their company’s ESG agenda
Not a day goes by without another call for more sustainability & social responsibility within our industry, which has now become a top priority for most organisations. Some have done a great job of setting and achieving ambitious targets within their own organisation. However, to drive meaningful changes, it is essential to look at the overall picture and involve external partners in this journey. How can marketing procurement be part of the transformation and contribute to their company’s ESG commitments, including by cascading them to suppliers, as well as suppliers of their suppliers?
Several WFA members will kickstart the knowledge exchange and share on their current approach to sustainability and social responsibility, from a marketing procurement perspective. This will be followed by a co-creation workshop facilitated by members of WFA’s Global Sourcing Board, including streams on:
A strategic sourcing framework to ESG – overall structure, pillars, roles & responsibilities, metrics
WFA’s Media Forum provides peers the chance to come together to discuss and tackle common media challenges and further our industry’s agenda.
Topic 1: Media responsibility - Pushing for industry-wide change
The Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) continues to provide a valuable forum for the industry to address a growing range of issues connected with harmful content on digital media platforms. Rob Rakowitz (Initiative Lead, GARM) will look to update us on progress with GARM’s mission.
Isabel Massey (Global Media Director at Diageo), Tina Beuchler (Global Head of Media & Agency Operations, Nestlé) and Catherina Kowsoleea (Head of Global Media Management, Philips) will then speak about how they’ve set up their responsible media initiatives, and how they’ve applied them to partners.
This will then be followed by a round-table discussion.
Topic 2: A new approach to global media measurement
Alongside a team of advertisers and national advertiser associations, WFA is catalysing change in the cross-media measurement space. WFA will update everyone on progress to develop software code powering pilots to deliver against the advertiser North Star, implemented by ANA (US) and ISBA (UK).
Karen Nelson-Field (CEO of Amplified Intelligence and former Senior Researcher, Ehrenberg Bass Institute) and Americo De Campos Silva (Global Head of Brand Communications & Engagement at Shell) will then discuss their recent work together on attention and how it has helped to enhance Shell’s global media planning.
This will then be followed by a Q&A and round-table discussion.
9:30 - 13:30
Policy Forum
Electra Palace Athens (Motivo meeting room)
WFA members only
Show more
The role of policy in support of sustainability
This year’s policy session at Global Marketer Week will explore two subthemes under the overall title of sustainable marketing. Firstly, industry experts will take a look at what technologies brands are going to have to navigate in the future, whether that be new platforms or the much-vaunted Metaverse. Participants will be given a better understanding of how these technologies work, what the challenges and opportunities are for brands and what the implications are from a policy perspective. The second part of the session will offer case studies on how the policy function can help drive companies’ sustainability agenda. Special focus will be given to how policy professionals can help ensure that trustworthy and verifiable environmental claims can help build trust in marketing’s capacity to be part of the solution in driving a more sustainable future.
16:00 - 18:00
Better Marketing
Zappeion
WFA members and by invitation only
Show more
How can brands rise to the sustainability challenge?
The UN has set 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Only one (SDG 13) refers to climate action. Sustainable life on Planet Earth depends on us delivering on all the goals, which are all interlinked.
Gender equality (SDG 5) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10) will accelerate reductions in poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2). Driving diversity, equity and inclusion will also drive climate action.
Put simply, corporations have to do everything; go net zero, promote sustainable behaviours, help develop a sustainable media ecosystem and build a sustainable industry model.
Better Marketing will try to look beyond the silos and see how all of our individual actions can help drive bigger societal and planetary goals.
Speakers:
Arwa Mahdawi, writer and strategist
Belinda Smith, CEO Americas, mSix & Partners
Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder, Futerra
David Wheldon, WFA President Emeritus & host of the Better Marketing Podcast
Jon Wilkins, Global Managing Director, Creative Council, Accenture Interactive
Thursday, 7 April
09:00-16:30
WFA/SDE Global Marketer Conference
"Hellenic Cosmos" Cultural Center
Open to all
Show more
The highly-acclaimed WFA Global Marketer Conference is back and, as ever, it boasts some of the highest-profile marketers and thought leaders in our industry. The day will focus on the intersection between creative effectiveness and sustainability in marketing. Our speakers will challenge us to address the most pressing issues facing our industry and the planet.
19:30-23:00
WFA Gala Dinner
Hotel Grande Bretagne
WFA members and by invitation only
Show more
Join us for an unforgettable dinner in the very heart of Athens!
Details to follow.
Friday, 8 April
10:00 - 14:00
National Associations Council
Electra Palace Athens (Motivo meeting room)
National Association Council members
Show more
The National Associations Council (NAC) is the forum for heads and representatives of national industry associations in WFA membership and offers a unique opportunity for national associations around the world representing the common interests of marketers to learn from each other and share ideas, insights and success stories.
In this session, we will discuss the leadership role of national associations in fostering a more sustainable advertising industry.
WFA's Executive Committee meets quarterly to discuss the organisation's priorities and guide WFA strategy. The Executive Committee is made up of senior corporate and national association representatives.
The AGM will WFA give members a review of the past year’s activities, challenges and major achievements.
More details on the agenda to follow.
19:00 - 23:00
SDE Cocktails & Welcome Dinner
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
By invitation only
Show more
Join us and our hosts at the Hellenic Advertisers Association for an unfortgettable dinner with a magical sea view.
09:30 - 13:00
CMO Forum
NEW Hotel
WFA members only
Show more
The CMO Forum is an invitation-only event for marketing leaders. In this session, the Forum will continue its focus on marketing transformation: addressing how global marketing organisations have delivered in terms of sustainable growth. Delivering digital, creative and capability transformations to demonstrably grow the business whilst addressing the world’s ‘to do list’ outlined by the UN’s sustainable development goals.
9:00 - 15:00
Sourcing Forum
Electra Palace Athens (Alkyoni meeting room)
WFA members only
Show more
Marketing sourcing as accelerators of their company’s ESG agenda
Not a day goes by without another call for more sustainability & social responsibility within our industry, which has now become a top priority for most organisations. Some have done a great job of setting and achieving ambitious targets within their own organisation. However, to drive meaningful changes, it is essential to look at the overall picture and involve external partners in this journey. How can marketing procurement be part of the transformation and contribute to their company’s ESG commitments, including by cascading them to suppliers, as well as suppliers of their suppliers?
Several WFA members will kickstart the knowledge exchange and share on their current approach to sustainability and social responsibility, from a marketing procurement perspective. This will be followed by a co-creation workshop facilitated by members of WFA’s Global Sourcing Board, including streams on:
A strategic sourcing framework to ESG – overall structure, pillars, roles & responsibilities, metrics
WFA’s Media Forum provides peers the chance to come together to discuss and tackle common media challenges and further our industry’s agenda.
Topic 1: Media responsibility - Pushing for industry-wide change
The Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) continues to provide a valuable forum for the industry to address a growing range of issues connected with harmful content on digital media platforms. Rob Rakowitz (Initiative Lead, GARM) will look to update us on progress with GARM’s mission.
Isabel Massey (Global Media Director at Diageo), Tina Beuchler (Global Head of Media & Agency Operations, Nestlé) and Catherina Kowsoleea (Head of Global Media Management, Philips) will then speak about how they’ve set up their responsible media initiatives, and how they’ve applied them to partners.
This will then be followed by a round-table discussion.
Topic 2: A new approach to global media measurement
Alongside a team of advertisers and national advertiser associations, WFA is catalysing change in the cross-media measurement space. WFA will update everyone on progress to develop software code powering pilots to deliver against the advertiser North Star, implemented by ANA (US) and ISBA (UK).
Karen Nelson-Field (CEO of Amplified Intelligence and former Senior Researcher, Ehrenberg Bass Institute) and Americo De Campos Silva (Global Head of Brand Communications & Engagement at Shell) will then discuss their recent work together on attention and how it has helped to enhance Shell’s global media planning.
This will then be followed by a Q&A and round-table discussion.
9:30 - 13:30
Policy Forum
Electra Palace Athens (Motivo meeting room)
WFA members only
Show more
The role of policy in support of sustainability
This year’s policy session at Global Marketer Week will explore two subthemes under the overall title of sustainable marketing. Firstly, industry experts will take a look at what technologies brands are going to have to navigate in the future, whether that be new platforms or the much-vaunted Metaverse. Participants will be given a better understanding of how these technologies work, what the challenges and opportunities are for brands and what the implications are from a policy perspective. The second part of the session will offer case studies on how the policy function can help drive companies’ sustainability agenda. Special focus will be given to how policy professionals can help ensure that trustworthy and verifiable environmental claims can help build trust in marketing’s capacity to be part of the solution in driving a more sustainable future.
16:00 - 18:00
Better Marketing
Zappeion
WFA members and by invitation only
Show more
How can brands rise to the sustainability challenge?
The UN has set 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Only one (SDG 13) refers to climate action. Sustainable life on Planet Earth depends on us delivering on all the goals, which are all interlinked.
Gender equality (SDG 5) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10) will accelerate reductions in poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2). Driving diversity, equity and inclusion will also drive climate action.
Put simply, corporations have to do everything; go net zero, promote sustainable behaviours, help develop a sustainable media ecosystem and build a sustainable industry model.
Better Marketing will try to look beyond the silos and see how all of our individual actions can help drive bigger societal and planetary goals.
Speakers:
Arwa Mahdawi, writer and strategist
Belinda Smith, CEO Americas, mSix & Partners
Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder, Futerra
David Wheldon, WFA President Emeritus & host of the Better Marketing Podcast
Jon Wilkins, Global Managing Director, Creative Council, Accenture Interactive
09:00-16:30
WFA/SDE Global Marketer Conference
"Hellenic Cosmos" Cultural Center
Open to all
Show more
The highly-acclaimed WFA Global Marketer Conference is back and, as ever, it boasts some of the highest-profile marketers and thought leaders in our industry. The day will focus on the intersection between creative effectiveness and sustainability in marketing. Our speakers will challenge us to address the most pressing issues facing our industry and the planet.
19:30-23:00
WFA Gala Dinner
Hotel Grande Bretagne
WFA members and by invitation only
Show more
Join us for an unforgettable dinner in the very heart of Athens!
Details to follow.
10:00 - 14:00
National Associations Council
Electra Palace Athens (Motivo meeting room)
National Association Council members
Show more
The National Associations Council (NAC) is the forum for heads and representatives of national industry associations in WFA membership and offers a unique opportunity for national associations around the world representing the common interests of marketers to learn from each other and share ideas, insights and success stories.
In this session, we will discuss the leadership role of national associations in fostering a more sustainable advertising industry.
Important: please keep in mind that the Artisan Istanbul MGallery and the Marmara are about 20 minutes walking from the hub hotel.
Flights
Turkish Airlines, the official airline of Global Marketer Week, offers special discounts to all WFA delegates. Visit the Turkish Airlines promocode page and use the event code 009TKM23 under the Promotion code section. The discount will be shown at the checkout.
Location
The Global Marketer Conference will take place at the Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar International Convention & Exhibition Center (see in Maps). For a full list of all the Global Marketer Week venues, please see the Agenda section above.
Please get in touch with us should you need an invitation letter in order to apply for a visa to enter Turkey.
Sponsors
Save the date for Global Marketer Week 2023!
Global Marketer Week goes to Istanbul from 25-28 April 2023
To register your interest in attending the event, please email events@wfanet.org
Sponsors & partners
Interested in partnership opportunities for WFA Global Marketer Week 2023? We’d love to discuss: sponsorship@wfanet.org