Who Attends
COUNTDOWN TO CANNES
The Brand Safety Summit team is jetting off to Cannes Lions, June 19-23, to interview some of the biggest industry leaders. We’ve got a jam-packed week of one-on-one discussions that will bring you the latest trends, insights and what to look out for on the horizon in the industry. More details coming soon.
Industry Leaders
Anna Bager
President & CEO
OAAA
Anna Bager is a seasoned cross-platform media veteran selected to lead the out of home advertising industry into the future. As of September 16, 2019, Ms. Bager will assume the title of President & CEO of the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), the Washington, DC-based national trade association that represents the $8+ billion out of home advertising industry. Before joining OAAA, Bager was Executive Vice President at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), the leading global trade association for digital media. During her 8-year tenure, Anna was responsible for leading all digital, mobile, video, audio, and data industry initiatives, representing more than 650 member companies including Google, Facebook, Amazon, Disney, and Microsoft. At IAB, Bager also supervised market research, media measurement, and thought leadership, and she partnered with IAB’s public policy team in Washington to advocate on critical issues like technical standards, brand safety, and consumer privacy. Under her leadership, IAB created three of the organizations’ most important centers of excellence: the IAB Mobile Center, representing the mobile marketing, advertising, and media marketplace; the IAB Digital Video Center, encompassing Advanced TV, OTT, and the Digital Content NewFronts; and the IAB Data Center, which developed consumer identifiers, data quality, industry benchmarks, and important tools for data activation and automation. Bager has worked in the media and technology sector her entire career. Prior to joining IAB, she led business intelligence at Ericsson Multimedia and headed research at Ericsson’s enterprise consulting unit. Prior to Ericsson, Bager was EMEA Research and Consulting Manager for the global research firm IDC. A native of Sweden, Ms. Bager is a graduate of Lund University in Lund, Sweden. Anna was named one of the 30 most powerful women in mobile advertising by Business Insider six years in a row; one of the top women in media by Folio magazine four times; and one of the top women in digital advertising by Cynopsis Media three times. She lives with her husband Erik and their two daughters in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Bager speaks four languages. When not working, Anna enjoys skiing and sailing with her family.
Deva Bronson
Executive Vice President, Global Head of Brand Assurance
dentsu
As EVP, Global Head of Brand Assurance, Deva leads dentsu’s US and Global Media Brand Assurance offerings, bringing together Brand Responsibility, Brand Safety, and Brand Suitability to address evolving media threats and enable clients to make the best, most responsible media decisions. In this role, Deva partners closely with others across the organization, including on the Investment and Economic Empowerment teams, to constantly monitor and understand best practices in deliverability, suitability, viewability, responsibility, and sustainability. Deva is also leading the creation of a global Brand Assurance steering committee. Prior to taking on the Brand Assurance leadership role this year, Deva served as the EVP, Head of Digital Investment, leading marketplace strategy and positioning across digital & publishing for dentsu’s US media agencies.A true digital native with nearly 20 years of experience in the media industry, Deva spent several years within GroupM and Publicis agencies, with client experience spanning the Technology, Pharmaceutical, CPG, Retail, Financial Services and B2B verticals. Deva also spent three years on the client side within the KFC Corporation and was responsible for the development and launch of the brand’s digital marketing discipline.
Bradley Hunter
Global Head of Brand Safety and Industry Relations
TikTok
15+ year digital marketing veteran with extensive experience across brand safety, industry partnerships, sales, and project management. MBA graduate of NYU Stern School with specializations in strategy and management. Currently at TikTok leading Global Industry Relations and Brand Safety. Former Division I varsity tennis Co-Captain at Penn State with competitive drive.
Samantha Stetson
Vice President Client Council and Industry Trade Relations
Meta
Samantha Stetson is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of marketing and sales experience in technology and healthcare IT. Samantha’s career reflects a proven track record of building and leading programs that extract a huge amount of impact from small teams. She is seen as a visionary who can make things happen. She has a deep passion for striving for excellence and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. She has served in a global capacity, which has allowed her to develop a deep empathy for the world we live in and the challenges outside of the United States. Samantha is currently the VP of the Client Council and Industry Trade Relations Team at Meta. The team’s mission is to foster a “customer first, customer best” culture throughout Meta. During her 9 years at Meta, Samantha has been responsible for building Meta’s Client Council franchise. The Councils are made up of top marketing and agency executives from Meta’s key clients and agency partners such as P&G, Unilever, Netflix, Pepsi, Coke, Walmart, etc., and the six major agency holding companies. She grew the franchise from one global council in 2011 to 14 global and regional Councils by end of 2020. Through these councils, she learned how to build deep cross functional relationships and manage complex issues to drive internal and external alignment. The Councils are seen as an indispensable part of Meta’s commitment to listening to their Customers and building deep relationships grounded in trust. The feedback gleaned during these meetings has helped influence some of Meta’s most important go-to-market strategies Samantha and her team are also responsible for leading relationships with the industry trade associations to partner on some of the most complex challenges facing the future of the digital ecosystem from brand safety to cross media measurement to data privacy.Samantha lives in Newtown Square, PA with her husband David and two children, Hadley (13) and Hunter (15). In her spare time, she enjoys Bikram Yoga and skiing. She grew up as a competitive figure skater and competed in the US National Championships.
Mark Walker
Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
Direct Digital Holdings
Mark Walker brings nearly 20 years of experience in private equity, building relationships, and revenue generating operations for Fortune 500 corporations as well as start-ups. His experience and expertise involves strategic planning, management and execution while building and maintaining subscriber bases for utilities, marketing, and retail organizations. Mr. Walker has been on multiple advisory boards, including Hitwise and Dentsu Aegis, and has written articles and case studies appearing in Jupiter Research, Search Engine Watch and the IAB.
Christa Carone
President
Infillion
Strategic and operational digital leader with broad global experience developingnew economy businesses, building brands, monetizing intellectual property, energizing teams and generating profitable revenue. Currently leading a portfolio company of advertising and marketing technology solutions that harness the growth in CTV and the demand for qualified 1P data. As the president of a sport and entertainment firm, president of a media company, global chief marketing officer and chief operating officer, I've led transformational change initiatives from a $200+ million brand transition, hyper-growth sales strategies and omni-channel customer acquisition programs to multi-billion dollar acquisitions, IP licensing and experiential launches, merger integrations and complex client retention initiatives. Trusted advisor to C-suites and boards of directors on revenue diversification, martech and fintech, digital and performance marketing, customer experience, reputation management, corporate turnarounds and brand building for Fortune 150 enterprises, privately-held firms and start-up companies.
Sean Corcoran
U.S. Chief Executive Officer
Mediahub
Sean is responsible for growing and managing the U.S. Mediahub offices in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and North Carolina, overseeing a team of 800+ people. Previously, Sean helped drive the digital vision for Mediahub using his expertise in online advertising, social marketing, emerging media, ad technology, analytics, and agency relationships and structure. Prior to joining Mediahub, Sean spearheaded social media and digital research at Forrester.
Leigh Freund
President and Chief Executive Officer
NAI
Leigh Freund is President & CEO of the NAI, a non-profit organization that is the leading self-regulatory association dedicated to responsible data collection and its use for digital advertising. Leigh leads the organization’s growth and helps set the agenda and strategic priorities. Leigh joined the NAI in 2015 after an eleven-year career at AOL Inc., where she served as vice president & chief counsel for global public policy. Leigh brings more than a decade of substantive expertise in privacy, advertising, and public policy in the digital sector to her work at the NAI. She has first-hand knowledge of the tremendous contributions third parties have made in the digital advertising space and she is a passionate believer in strong self-regulation. During her time at AOL, Leigh led the company’s public policy efforts and was a leading voice on global digital and technology policy. Prior to that role, Leigh headed up the AOL advertising legal team and worked with AOL’s privacy team to promote and develop responsible use and collection of data, and ensure compliance with the industry’s self-regulatory programs. Before joining AOL in 2004, Leigh worked at K&L Gates and on Capitol Hill with Rep. Fred Upton from her home state of Michigan. Leigh holds an undergraduate degree in political science from Kalamazoo College and a J.D. from Georgetown University. She is an active participant in several industry organizations devoted to compliance with key regulatory initiatives and principles.
Lashawnda Goffin
Chief Executive Officer
Colossus SSP
Lashawnda Goffin has a 16-year leadership track record delivering results across media planning, buying, negotiating, sales and ad tech programmatic development. Since taking on the leadership role of Colossus SSP in 2019, Goffin has exponentially increased the business by more than doubling the company’s growth year-over-year in 2020 to reach record levels. Prior to Colossus SSP, Lashawnda held key programmatic demand roles at TrustX and Tribune Publishing. Earlier in her career, she worked at Havas Media as a programmatic trader and local broadcast media buyer. Lashawnda is an exceptional team builder and strong advocate in supporting her community.
Mainardo de Nardis
Entrepreneur, Investor, Board Director, Advisor
Mainardo de Nardis is and Entrepreneur, Investor, Board Director, and Advisor. He is also the Former CEO of OMD.
Terence Kawaja
Chief Executive Officer
LUMA Partners
Terence Kawaja is CEO & Founder of LUMA Partners, a leading strategic advisory firm focused at the intersection of media, marketing and technology. He is a seasoned investment banker with more than 25 years of experience and has advised on over $300 billion of transactions, including some of the most pivotal deals in the media and tech industries. Throughout his career, Terry has leveraged deep industry knowledge to take a strategic approach to deal making rather than chase transactions. The best compliment people say is that he thinks like a principal.
Terry is both a recognized expert in the Internet and media sectors and also a popular speaker at leading industry conferences, frequently using humor to aid substantive presentations. Besides spending time in board rooms and on stages, Terry enjoys guest lecturing at universities, including Stanford, Columbia and NYU. Terry has a straightforward style and is never afraid to tell it like it is.
Previously, Terry headed Media M&A at Citigroup and Credit Suisse and had a short stint as a public company CFO. He lives in NYC with his wife and two boys.
Oleg Korenfeld
Chief Technology Officer
CMI Media Group
Kathrin Lausch
Chief Executive Officer
Studio Cadeaux, a Stagwell Company
Nick Law
Accenture Song
Nick Law is the Chief Creative Officer for Accenture Song.
Dave Morgan
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Simulmedia
Dave Morgan is the CEO and founder of Simulmedia. He previously founded and ran both TACODA, Inc., an online advertising company that pioneered behavioral online marketing and was acquired by AOL in 2007 for $275 million, and Real Media, Inc., one of the world’s first ad serving and online ad network companies and a predecessor to 24/7 Real Media (TFSM), which was later sold to WPP for $649 million.
Philip Thomas
Chief Executive, Ascential Futures | Chairman, LIONS
Ascential Futures
Philip Thomas is Chief Executive Officer of Ascential Futures, which comprises Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, WARC, WGSN, and Money20/20. He is also Chairman of LIONS, having been CEO of Lions Festivals for ten years between 2006 and 2016.
He began his career as a journalist, working on national and international magazines and newspapers, and editing Empire, the UK’s biggest-selling movie magazine, before moving into publishing and becoming Managing Director of FHM worldwide, launching the iconic men’s magazine in more than 30 countries.
He was appointed Managing Director of Emap’s Australian and South East Asian division, based in Sydney for three years, before returning to the UK and being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lions Festivals.
Philip is Chair of Media Trust and was cited as one the Agents of Change for Gender Equality by the UK’s Management Today magazine. In 2022, Philip was awarded an IPA Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the advertising industry.
Chloe Wix
Global Director, Monetization Product Marketing
Spotify
Chloe Wix is the Global Director, Monetization Product Marketing for Spotify.
Previous Interviews
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