Media agencies: “Trusted and quality news journalism is more important than ever right now”

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Diogo Brandao is a 24 year old Art Director working in HeimatTBWA Berlin. Already working first in Madrid as a creative, he has now moved to Berlin for 2 years to start his career as a Creative Mind in the Advertising World.

Christian de la Villehuchet’s first contact with the advertising world took place in 1991, when he joined WCRS, at the time considered one of the biggest creative agencies in the UK. In 1993, he became part of Havas (called EURO RCSG back then), taking up various roles, especially in business development across Europe. In 2002 he became the CEO of EURO RSCG Belgium, in 2007 he transitioned to CEO of EURO RSCG Benelux, and in 2010 Christian was appointed CEO of Havas Creative Group Europe until 2015, when he joined the operational management of the group as Global Chief Integration Officer (Havas Group).

As of 2024, he holds a number of roles, including: Global Chief Integration Officer at Havas Group, President of Havas Creative Affiliates, Director of the Havas Global Creative Council, Member of Havas Operational Committee and Member of the Board within the Franco-Belgian Chamber of Commerce.

Miranda is Chief Executive Officer at adam&eveDDB, one of the largest advertising agencies in the UK and one of the most highly awarded agencies in the world. Miranda joined the agency 12 years ago and has since led many accounts including John Lewis, Google, Mars and more recently Amazon. In 2023 adam&eveDDB won the Film Grand Prix and UK Agency of the Year at Cannes Lions, plus Agency of the Year at D&AD, Campaign BIG and British Arrows. It was also named Agency of the Year at APG awards for the fourth time consecutively – a first in APG history. Miranda sits on the European Association of Communications Agencies’ International Agencies Council.

Helen Price leads Global Investment for Wavemaker, ensuring that the company leverages GroupM scale, market intelligence, and strong relationships to secure the best available opportunities across media pricing, quality, innovation, and value for clients to drive their businesses forward. With over 25 years of experience in media, Helen has worked in various local, regional, and global roles. She joined Wavemaker in 2022 from IPG Mediabrands, where she led global investment for clients such as J&J, Nestle, Amex, and Lego. Helen previously served as a consultant at Ebiquity. Throughout her career, Helen has dedicated herself to finding solutions that deliver value and growth to clients. Beyond her professional endeavors, Helen takes pride in being the mother of two young boys and spends much of her spare time standing on muddy fields in the rain. When not doing that, she enjoys dining out and balances it with a love for long runs.

Michaela Hutnanova is a trainee at INNOCEAN at the European headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She is a member of the People & Culture team, commonly known as HR, and has been part of the team since July of the current year. With a recent entry into the creative industry and specifically working in HR, Michaela brings a fresh perspective to her role. At the age of 25, and having recently earned her master’s degree in Culture, Communication, and Globalization from Aalborg University, she brings a blend of academic knowledge and youthful energy to her professional journey.

Carsten is the Director of New Business in Europe for Innocean, a leading force in driving business transformation and brand building. Specializing in driving growth and award-winning integrated marketing campaigns, Carsten excels in cultural marketing, community building, and global consumer engagement. With a track record as Managing Director at DEPT and Senior Vice President at VICE Media Group, Carsten has been a pivotal leader in commercial endeavors. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Economics and a Master’s degree in Media Management he is making significant contributions to the evolving marketing landscape since 20 years.

As Chief Executive Officer EMEA of Ogilvy, a post she has held since September 2021, Patou is responsible for driving all aspects of Ogilvy’s business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, spanning public relations, consulting, advertising, health, and experience.

Patou joined Ogilvy in Belgium in 1993, and has steadily risen through the ranks of Ogilvy, taking on management roles of increasing responsibility. She has worked on three continents across a broad range of disciplines, categories, and clients. Her multi-discipline expertise has helped her serve as a leading contributor to Ogilvy’s global digital strategy, integrating the group’s digital capabilities across the network.

Tamara has more than 15 years of experience working in agencies and representing the communications sector at national & European level. Tamara joined EACA in 2010, and she was appointed Director General in 2018, becoming CEO in 2022. She has been elected first President of the global alliance of agencies VoxComm and sits on the Boards of EASA and EDAA. She supports the Effie World Wide Programme as its Partner Council Member.

“I have never enjoyed writing about myself, I like when people find out who I am. I just hope to be tougher than I appear”

‘Please don’t touch the artworks, they said. Touched them all :)‘

Clarisse Artoré, currently serving as an Account Director in Advertising and Brand Strategy at Havas Paris, brings a wealth of experience in the broader communications field, spanning PR, influence, corporate comms, brand positioning, advertising, social media strategy, and political communications. Clarisse’s professional journey began at APCO Worldwide, a public relations agency, where she specialized in corporate and crisis communications. Subsequently, she transitioned to the French Government, actively contributing to the shaping of PR and social media strategies for the Junior Minister in charge of Children and Families. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in conducting awareness campaigns on child protection matters.

In 2022, Clarisse joined Havas Paris, dedicating herself to building impactful advertising campaigns across various platforms while placing creativity at the core of her work. She holds a firm belief in the power of communication to influence behaviors and perceptions, catalyze change, and foster meaningful connections in today’s world.

Irina (28) is a talented senior account manager, with a positive ‘can do’ attitude and a sharp strategic mind. She enjoys taking on challenging projects and navigating them to their delivery, whilst bringing everyone on the team on that journey. But what makes her tick is creating work that has a positive impact, having worked on projects such as Vanish ‘Me, My Autism and I’, and Fan Paint (a partnership between Lifejacket and Melanoma UK).

Miguel Mestre’s journey took an unexpected turn from his childhood dream of becoming a professional football goalkeeper to pursuing a degree in Marketing Communication. Despite more than a decade facing strikers and forwards, he had a change of heart and opted for a career as a copywriter, embracing the challenge of meeting tight deadlines. Upon relocating to Lisbon for studies in Creative Advertising, Miguel gained experience in agencies such as Havas and Dentsu Creative Portugal (formerly MSTF Partners). His achievements include winning the Young Lions Portugal Film competition and earning a D&AD pencil. In 2019, Miguel joined Fuel Lisboa, marking the next chapter in his professional adventure.

Jack Waring is a brand and CX strategist who is passionate about creating meaningful experiences that bridge the gap between companies and customers. Over the past four years, Jack has navigated the creative world at Dentsu Creative in Amsterdam, blending experience in innovation and systems thinking with creative work that pushes clients. When not strategizing, Jack enjoys spending time on the bike or exploring the Netherlands with a camera.

Tommaso Mangiarotti, a young professional hailing from Italy, presently serves as an Account Executive at Dentsu Creative Italia. His journey into the world of marketing commenced when he joined a small Video Games marketing company in Tokyo, where he discovered his passion for all things marketing. Since then, Tommaso has continued to develop his career, taking on the role of account executive in communication agencies.

Marta Fitak embarked on her professional journey during her studies, initiating her career in loyalty programs. As she took on progressively challenging responsibilities, Marta evolved into a project manager within a small agency. Her fascination lies in the ability to connect with potential customers through diverse communication methods, showcasing the best features of products and services—an experience akin to reuniting old friends who are unaware of each other’s existence.

For nearly four years, Marta has assumed the role of Project Manager in the Client Service team, overseeing both large and small projects for the main client, Nissan. These projects encompass online and offline campaigns, social media support, and local activities. Marta closely collaborates with the media house, contributing to the establishment of the Nissan United unit.

The most appealing aspects of Marta’s job include the daily challenges and creative problem-solving, coupled with the opportunity to collaborate with specialists across various fields—from the client’s marketing department and product managers to the creative team and media house. This collaborative spirit fosters a sense of unity within the team.

Expanding her expertise, Marta welcomed PHILIPS and the beauty products department into the portfolio last year. This addition provided her with insights into another industry, facilitating her growth toward delivering more comprehensive customer service. Embracing numerous challenges, Marta thrives on developing solutions to better align with the expectations and needs of the clients.

Louise Guyon, with three and a half years of experience as an Account Director at DDB Paris, has had the pleasure of spearheading campaigns for esteemed brands such as Google, Glenmorangie, and Volkswagen. She harbors a particular interest in international clients, finding the constant exposure to new cultural nuances to be an enriching aspect of her role.

Alice Wagner began her career at adam&eveDDB, where she had the fortune of cultivating her passion for sharp strategy and exceptional creative work. A dedicated qualitative research enthusiast, Alice firmly believes in incorporating the consumer’s voice into the work at every opportunity. She takes pride in her significant contributions to projects for renowned brands such as John Lewis, Waitrose, Savills, and Mars Pet Care.

Vania Liberoff is a Digital Strategist at Ogilvy Madrid, bringing over 10 years of experience in the dynamic field of brand strategies across various sectors. Specializing in Foresight Research, Social Intelligence, and Audience Intelligence, Vania has consistently stayed at the forefront of what’s trendy and relevant. Her belief in the power of brands connecting with people through stories fuels her passion for all forms of storytelling.

Joely Buxton Smith has been at McCann since 2017. Having started on the L’Oréal business, she is now the Account Director on Just Eat Takeaway’s global business and Nestle’s Cereal Partners UK at McCann London. Joely has managed Just Eat through the launch and roll out of the ‘Did Somebody Say’ brand platform including the last three global brand campaigns and the UEFA Champions League Sponsorship, running in up to 23 markets.

Luca Dornhoefer, 26, has been an integral part of DDB for approximately three years. Starting as an intern and working student for DDB Entertainment, Luca focused on sports communications, catering to clients such as Volkswagen, Eurowings, and ERGO. Over the past year, Luca has transitioned into the role of an Account Manager at DDB Berlin, overseeing various advertising campaigns for clients, including Volkswagen German Market and ERGO. Notably, Luca’s passion lies in inspiring people through a diverse range of campaigns and activities.

Molly Grant is a 25-year-old PR professional currently situated in the heart of Manchester City. Over the past three years, following a Journalism degree, Molly has been actively engaged in the dynamic realm of PR and communications. Joining the talented team at Dentsu Creative over a year ago, Molly now serves as a PR Account Manager across multiple accounts.

In this role, Molly has the privilege of collaborating with a diverse portfolio of clients, with a primary focus on elevating their PR strategies, enhancing public image, and optimizing communications, among other responsibilities. Molly thrives in the fast-paced, exciting, and rewarding environment of her career, which keeps her on her toes every day.

Outside of the professional sphere, Molly runs a successful side hustle in social media content management. During downtime, she enjoys playing golf and spending quality time with friends and family. On weekends, one can usually find Molly frequenting the local coffee shops, adding a delightful touch to her vibrant and multifaceted life

Murray Robertson is a passionate individual with a deep interest in the advertising industry, specifically focusing on sports, equality, sustainability, retail, and consumer goods. Demonstrating a resolute drive to excel in the creative field, Murray consistently seeks opportunities with companies whose purpose aligns with their diverse passions. In 2021, Murray transitioned from the sunny shores of Cape Town to join Ogilvy Amsterdam, where they currently hold the position of Account Director.

Outside the professional realm, Murray finds joy in various activities, including watching football, running, playing padel, attempting golf, and maintaining overall fitness. Firmly believing in the transformative power of sports, Murray actively participates in sports-related NGO projects. Noteworthy among these initiatives is Murray’s involvement in fundraising for Achieve, a young women empowerment program in disadvantaged areas of Cape Town. Additionally, Murray is a certified Surf Coach, specializing in teaching individuals with diverse abilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, blindness, paralysis, and more, through the Roxy Davis Foundation.

Tom King (26) is a dedicated strategist who hunts ideas without waiting for permission. He embraces his humanity both in his professional and personal life. Tom considers himself fortunate to be a dyslexic queer man in his industry because it allows him to connect the dots others overlook. Notably, he served as the lead strategist for “Me, My Autism & I,” which won the Channel 4 Diversity in Advertising Awards in 2022 and earned a prestigious Cannes Lion Gold in Creative Strategy. Tom strives to contribute to the growth of Havas, collaborate with brilliant minds in the network, share insights, and create impactful work.

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.