Variety will host its Future of Brand Summit presented by Acxiom on Oct. 7 in New York. The half-day event and cocktail reception will convene the industry’s most influential executives, marketers, creatives and cultural leaders to explore how brands are breaking through in today’s crowded media landscape.
The program features keynote conversations and exclusive panels with leaders across entertainment, marketing, tech, design and more, highlighting how today’s most innovative leaders are shaping the next era of brand storytelling, consumer engagement and cultural impact.
The day will kick off with a keynote conversation with “Good Morning America” co-anchor, analyst for “Fox NFL Sunday” and host of “The 100,000 Pyramid” Michael Strahan, who will sit down with Jose Diaz, EVP strategic partnerships and communications of SMAC Entertainment, for a conversation moderated by Cynthia Littleton, co-editor-in-chief, Variety.
Later in the day, “Project Runway” takes the stage for a keynote conversation with designer and executive producer and mentor Christian Siriano and executive producer and showrunner Michael Rucker, moderated by Ramin Setoodeh, co-editor-in-chief, Variety.
The “Brand Visionaries Roundtable” will spotlight transformational marketing leaders shaping the future of their industries. Cynthia Littleton will moderate a conversation with Tim Ellis, CMO of the NFL; Peggy Roe, chief customer officer at Marriott; Leanne Fremar, chief brand officer of JPMorganChase; Mark Kirkham, CMO of PepsiCo Beverages, North America; and Laurie Lam, chief brand officer of e.l.f. Beauty. Together, they will explore how brands are breaking through in a crowded media environment and commanding consumer attention.
The “Creativity and Connected Data” panel will dive into how insights elevate design, storytelling, and audience engagement. Todd Spangler, Variety’s business editor, will moderate a discussion with Jarrod Martin, CEO, Acxiom; Andrés Ordóñez, global chief creative officer, FCB; and Diana Haussling, CEO, Hello Products on how brands can deliver imaginative and deeply relevant consumer experiences.
The “CMO of the Future” fireside explores the leadership traits, business and technology mindset future CMOs need to thrive — balancing creativity, data, AI and organizational impact, and will feature Denise Persson, CMO, Snowflake; and Courtney Keating, CMO, Acxiom.
“At the Future of Brand Summit, we’re moving past the buzz to focus on what truly matters — how brands are creating meaningful customer experiences and driving real impact,” said Jarrod Martin, CEO, Acxiom.
Finally, the “Moments that Matter: NBCU Fueling Connection and Communities Through Shared Experiences” panel will explore how technology is powering can’t miss moments across linear TV, streaming platforms, social media and in-person gatherings, bringing fans and brands closer to the content and communities they serve. The panel features Alison Levin, president of advertising and partnerships, NBCUniversal; Maria Taylor, host of “Football Night in America,” NBC Sports’ lead NBA and WNBA studio host; Willie Geist, host of “Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist” and co-host of “Morning Joe”; and Craig Conover, cast member of “Southern Charm,” entrepreneur and author. The conversation will be moderated by Jenny Maas, senior TV business writer, Variety.
“We are happy to partner with Acxiom to bring together a remarkable group of leaders at the Future of Brand Summit to explore how creativity, data and storytelling are driving the next chapter of brand innovation,” said Variety’s chief operating and marketing officer, Dea Lawrence.