AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Sorin leads the Marketing Sciences team at Mars, building tomorrow’s insights capabilities at the intersection of sciences and tech, fueled by a deep understanding of human behaviors. The team is the Mars Global Center of Expertise for Marketing Effectiveness, innovating in advertising research methods, media measurement, packaging and in-store shopper understanding solutions. Sorin is also a passionate marketing blogger; you can follow his Engineering Marketing blog at www.sorinp.com
Morten Legarth is a Creative Director at faith and VCCP London, a gamer, an avid tech tinkerer an AI practitioner and speaker.
Morten has always enjoyed getting hands on with new technologies and AI is no exception, he has trained several diffusion models and earlier this year created an AI generated debate at the The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) council meeting on the impact of AI on the advertising industry. He recently talked at the IPA Business Growth Conference and Paradism Summit on the role of Creativity in an AI future.
Gabriele has been an officer at the European Commission since August 2017, focusing on legal and policy aspects of new technologies. He played a key role in shaping the European Commission’s policies on Artificial Intelligence (AI) since 2018, co-authoring the White Paper on AI in February 2020 and actively engaging in public consultations. In April 2021, he designed and co-drafted the proposal for the Artificial Intelligence Act. Before his current role, Gabriele served in the European Parliament’s Legal Service (2004-2009) and the Court of Justice (2001-2003). From 2009 to 2017, he lived in the United States, working on international development projects and collaborating with start-ups in emergency communications and energy in New York City. Gabriele holds a Harvard Law School LLM, a PhD in Italian and Comparative Criminal Law from the University of Pavia, and a Law Degree from the Catholic University in Milan. He is a qualified lawyer in Italy and New York.
Magdalena has over 20 years of marketing experience gained in top FMCG & SDA companies, such as Philips, L’Oreal, Danone, Kraft Foods or Reckitt Benckiser. Currently, she holds the position of Marketing Director at Versuni, being responsible for the region of Central & Eastern Europe. As a lecturer and mentor in two business programs, she helps marketers to grow their competence in such fields like marketing strategies, effective business solutions, building and developing teams, behavioral marketing or power of cultural contexts.
Mark Whelan has more than two decades of experience in ideation and innovation. His expertise spans diverse areas such as product development, brand naming and design, intellectual property (IP), and the creation of award-winning campaigns and entertainment properties.
His accomplishments include the acquisition of his agency, Cake, by the international network Havas in 2008.
Richard Robinson is the Managing Director of Econsultancy and Oystercatchers. He is a specialist in accelerating marketing performance & delivering digital transformation for brands and agencies alike.
In addition to his role, he is an influential advocate for diversity and gender equality, earning recognition as one of the top 20 male advocates for women in the workplace. His work in this regard has established him as a ‘Campaigner for increased diversity in the industry’ by The Huffington Post.
Beyond his professional commitments, Richard serves on advisory boards, provides mentorship, and contributes to industry development. His most significant contribution lies in his role as a diversity champion.
Dan Nechita, serving as the Head of Cabinet for Dragos Tudorache, a Member of the European Parliament in the Renew Europe group, is a prominent figure in EU legislative matters. His responsibilities encompass the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, and he oversees key legislative committees such as AIDA, LIBE, AFET, SEDE, and the Delegation for relations with the United States (D-US). Previously, he held the position of State Counselor for Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, focusing on e-governance, digitalization, and cybersecurity.
Dan has a diverse professional background, having worked with the World Security Institute on the Global Zero nuclear disarmament initiative, the Brookings Institution Center of Executive Education, and as a graduate teaching assistant at the George Washington University. He has also contributed to the ABC News Political Unit and served as a research assistant at the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace.
Furthermore, Dan is a co-founder of Smart Everything Everywhere, a think tank dedicated to promoting European digitalization. He is also the founder of K Street Consulting, a specialized consulting firm assisting U.S. companies in the EU market. Additionally, he serves as an expert project evaluator for the European Commission.
Lisa Humphreys is a marketing and communications professional with a background in business transformation, operational best practices, data and technology strategy, team leadership, and account management.
She has achieved recognition as an alumna of the Management Today “35 business women under 35” list and has been a finalist for prestigious awards such as Women of the Future Awards and First Women Awards. Lisa is deeply passionate about fostering the growth of young women in business, actively contributing as an ambassador for the Women of the Future network. She frequently engages with students, speaking at schools and events, and she is an enthusiastic member of the Bloom UK network. In addition, Lisa is a valued member of the EY Future FTSE network.
Jane Ostler leads Kantar’s global thought leadership efforts, conducts original research, and serves as an international public speaker and media commentator. Jane also hosts Kantar’s Future Proof podcast on topics related to brands, marketing, digital, media, and advertising.
Jane has a strong background in managing consumer and industry change communications, including collaborations with government bodies at the ministerial level, Ofcom, retailers, and manufacturers.
Her expertise extends to leading industry monitoring and research programs, procuring and overseeing advertising, media, and direct marketing agencies, and establishing communication infrastructure.
Angela Mills Wade is a lobbyist and consultant with 30 years of expertise in media-related issues, encompassing business and legal aspects within the European Union and the post-Brexit landscape in the UK. She is the Executive Director at the European Publishers’ Council (EPC) since 1991, where she has played a pivotal role in shaping this unique media lobby group.
In addition to her role at EPC, Angela currently serves as Chair of the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA) and the Publishers’ Content Forum. She is a Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair of the News Media Coalition, as well as Vice Chair and Board member of the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA). She also holds a board membership with Reporters without Borders (RSF-UK), serves as a Non-Executive Director for the Copyright Hub Foundation, and is the Director of Europe Analytica.
Angela’s career has been dedicated to policy development at the EU level, ensuring the sustainability of the press and professional journalism across various platforms. Her expertise also extends to media innovation and strategy, making her a valuable contributor to the ever-changing media landscape.
Dr. Alex Connock is a Senior Fellow in Management Practice, teaching various courses. Additionally, he leads the Creative Business department at the UK’s National Film and Television School.
In the entertainment industry, Connock has founded and grown multiple media companies and received six Entrepreneur of the Year nominations. He is also a voting member at BAFTA.
From 1998 to 2011, he co-founded and served as CEO of Ten Alps, a media group that produced numerous factual programs, digital content, and publications, including Teachers TV for the UK government. From 2012 to 2017, he led Endemol Shine North (now Workerbee), creating content for major UK broadcasters and social platforms.
In the charity sector, Connock serves as Vice-Chair at UNICEF UK and is a director for The Halle Orchestra.
His educational background includes degrees from Oxford, Columbia, INSEAD, and a PhD in video optimization for e-commerce.