FC Barcelona keynote gives Interact the sporting edge

Dídac Lee joins impressive line-up of keynotes including Nestlé and Procter & Gamble.

IAB Europe is delighted to announce that Didac Lee, Founder & CEO Inspirit and FC Barcelona Board Member will join the European online advertising industry’s finest at this year’s Interact Congress at the prestigious Arts Hotel, Barcelona, 30th – 31st May. This year’s theme is the Digital Brandscape and explores the role of innovative digital strategy in developing brands.

Dídac Lee will present a keynote on the second day by sharing the insight he has developed through playing a pivotal role in enabling FC Barcelona to become one of the most internationally successful brands today. He joins an impressive line-up of keynote speakers including Lothar Höcker, Purchasing Group Manager, Procter & Gamble, Peter Blackshaw, Global Digital Chief, Nestlé, Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director General, European Commission and Igor Beuker, the founder and managing director of LaComunidad.

Guy Phillipson, CEO, IAB UK will lead a panel debate on premium digital advertising formats. There are case studies from James Kirkham, Co-founder, Holler, Laurent Delaporte, EMEA Vice President, Microsoft Advertising, and Inga Hlín Pálsdóttir, Director, Marketing & Visit Iceland, Promote Iceland who will be joined in a joint study with Mads Holmen, Planning Director of Goviral and Laura Wood, Partner, The Brooklyn Brothers.

Research and Regulation to set the scene for the Digital Brandscape

The first day of Interact will set the scene for the future of the European online advertising industry. The results of the annual AdEx Benchmark study will reveal the importance of four key trends; branding and storytelling, video, mobile and innovation. Delegates will also be first to see the results from Mediascope Europe into the changing media consumption patterns across 28 European markets.

Regulation Matters
Our panel of industry leaders includes Stephen Noller, CEO, nugg.ad, Erhard Neumann, CEO, ADTECH and René Lamsfuss, Vice President Market Governance & Data Strategy Online, Nielsen moderated by Kimon Zorbas Vice President, IAB Europe to discuss the implications of European regulation. Our panel debates include Tim Elkington Director of Research & Strategy, IAB UK moderating a discussion about online ad awareness using Starbucks, Nestlé and GSK as case studies, and Ruud Wanck, Head of Interaction EMEA, Group M will lead a panel discussion on Big Data, joined by panellists from Havas and Xaxis.

IAB Europe Research Awards
IAB Europe will celebrate the contribution research plays in enabling successful digital marketing through the IAB Europe Research Awards. The awards will focus on seven key categories including branding, ad effectiveness, consumer attitudes and behaviour, mobile internet, social media, cross media and audience measurement.

The Marketing and Interactive Excellence (MIXX) Awards
These will promote and reward the best European interactive campaigns of the year with a prestigious panel of leaders judging campaigns on their creativity and impact.

The ceremony announcing the winners of the awards will form the centrepiece of the 30th May Gala Dinner at Barcelona’s stunning Media-TIC Building, 22@Barcelona district as delegates reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing the European online advertising industry.

I²C awards to foster innovation in online advertising
IAB Europe is delighted to announce the incorporation of the Interact Innovation Camp (I²C) into this year’s Interact Congress. The I²C will foster innovation by showcasing the work of 20 selected young companies building their businesses using data to the senior pan-European executives at Interact through a series of inclusive sessions. The best will be celebrated in an awards presentation at the end of the two day conference.

Alain Heureux, President and CEO of IAB Europe says, “Interact offers a unique insight into how today’s leading brands are capitalising on the strengths of digital media. This year’s event will offer an opportunity to benefit from the expertise of the leading players that we’re bringing together and reflect on the future potential of the online advertising industry as well as celebrating upcoming new businesses through the Innovation Camp.”