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Share on XFrom groundbreaking keynotes to thought-provoking panels, this year’s Cannes Lions Festival served as a testament to the innovation and creativity that define our industry. The energy and excitement of this year’s event have set a new benchmark, leaving us inspired and ready to clear digital media’s complexities and forge the future of digital advertising.
Here’s a recap of our top Cannes highlights from this year.
She Runs It: Lift As You Climb
With IAS, She Runs It, The New York Times, Mars Petcare, and Mondelez
Gender inequality continues to be a prominent issue within the advertising and marketing industry. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, facing barriers like pay disparities and limited career advancement opportunities. However, there’s growing optimism for change as awareness increases and initiatives advocating for gender diversity gain traction.
In a conversation hosted by IAS in partnership with She Runs It, a panel of courageous leaders discussed the actions necessary to pursue change and achieve equity for women in marketing, media, and tech. The panelists, including Lisa Utzschneider (CEO, IAS), Lynn Branigan (CEO, She Runs It), Joy Robins (Chief Advertising Officer, The New York Times), Najoh Tita-Reid (Chief Brand and Experience Officer, Mars Petcare), and Eugenia Zalis (Head of Marketing and Brand, Mondelez) shared their own personal experiences, and highlighted how promoting gender equality in marketing not only drives innovation but also ensures that diverse perspectives are represented in the industry.
Safeguard Your Brand in the Era of AI-Powered Misinformation
With IAS, CIMM, and Beet.TV
Misinformation poses a significant challenge for advertisers, agencies, and publishers alike. As the complexity of digital content grows, so too does the potential for misinformation to impact advertising strategies and metrics. While misinformation in media isn’t a new phenomenon, advancements in generative AI and user-generated content have exacerbated its impact, posing significant threats to brands’ efforts to engage consumers effectively across the digital landscape.
Lisa Utzschneider (CEO, IAS) and Jon Watts (Managing Director, CIMM) engaged in a fireside chat with Beet.TV to address strategies to navigate this surge in misinformation, safeguard brand integrity, and sustain growth throughout the ongoing election season and beyond. The panelists addressed the impact of misinformation near ads, and how data and measurement is crucial for maintaining trust, integrity, and effectiveness in digital advertising.
A Conversation on Brand Safety and Suitability
With IAS, Meta, Kenvue, and Kinesso
With the proliferation of user-generated content, programmatic advertising, and the rise of misinformation, ensuring ads appear in appropriate and secure contexts is increasingly difficult. Companies must now employ advanced technologies and strict monitoring to protect their brand image and avoid associations with harmful or inappropriate content.
To discuss this challenge, industry leaders including Lisa Utzschneider (CEO, IAS), Samantha Stetson (VP, Client Council & Industry Trade Relations, Meta), Mark Proulx (Director, Media Responsibility & Quality, Kenvue), and David Mataranglo (US CEO, Kinesso) held a panel addressing the escalating complexities advertisers face amid a backdrop of global events like elections and the Olympics. LisaU highlighted that these events amplify concerns over brand exposure to controversial content and misinformation. Citing Forrester research, she noted that 82% of B2C marketing executives in the U.S. express worries about advertising during election cycles, underscoring the gravity of the issue.
Central to the discussion was the role of advanced AI-driven tools in safeguarding brand integrity. IAS’s partnership with Meta enhances brand safety and suitability across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Our joint efforts include innovative tools like the AI-powered Total Media Quality suite, designed to provide granular insights and protect brands from misinformation.
The New Advertising Paradigm
With IAS, Teads, Lumen, and Publicis Media
Amid surges in risky content, the rapid advancements of AI, and the relentless competition for consumers’ attention across various digital platforms, advertisers find themselves navigating a complex landscape that’s more challenging than ever before.
In this session, IAS hosted a fireside chat on combating misinformation with Craig Ziegler (SVP, Product, IAS) and Clément Bascoulergue (Country Manager, IAS), followed by a panel discussion with Caroline Hugonenc (SVP, Research & Insights, Teads), Mike Follet (Managing Director, Lumen), and Seb Larre (Head of Digital, Publicis Media) to discuss what’s on the horizon for attention measurement and optimization in 2024 and beyond.
Brand Innovators: Women in Marketing Leadership Forum
With IAS and Molson Coors Beverage Company
The Women in Marketing Forum at the Armani Caffé featured an engaging fireside chat led by Sarah Martinez (CRO, IAS), alongside Courtney Benedict (SVP, Marketing, Molson Coors) and Leslie Malcolm (VP, Marketing, Molson Coors). This event offered an insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of marketing, leadership challenges, and strategies for success in the industry. Such forums are crucial as they provide a platform for women leaders to share their experiences and inspire the next generation of female marketers, fostering diversity and inclusion within the marketing field.
Balancing Open Web, Social Platforms, and Premium Publishers on the GroupM Rooftop
With IAS, GroupM, and Mars
GroupM hosted a discussion at The Martinez Hotel on navigating the advertising landscape across the open web and social. This livestreamed panel session, moderated by Paul Nasse (RVP, Agency Partnerships, IAS), featured insights from Luke Bozeat (COO, GroupM UK) and Anja Spielmann (Global Brand Experience Director, Mars) as they explored the intricate challenges faced by advertisers in optimizing their media strategies across diverse digital channels.
The panel also spotlighted advancements in media quality methodologies and technologies that aid in decision-making for ad placements. The speakers highlighted the evolving role of metrics like attention in media buying decisions and emphasized the need for transparency in social platforms to effectively mitigate brand risk.
Three clear takeaways from Cannes Lions
The Cannes Lions Festival provided an opportunity for industry leaders to come together to clear up the complexities of digital media. The insights shared underscored the critical need for technological innovation, industry collaboration, and strategic foresight to empower advertisers in safeguarding their brands while maximizing engagement and impact.
Here are our top three takeaways:
- Maximize ROI with AI-driven measurement and optimization, including detecting and avoiding made-for-advertising sites and driving performance with attention.
- Safeguard and scale brands with unparalleled brand safety and suitability that can protect against misinformation and deepfakes, especially as global elections approach.
- Forge the future through collaboration. Advertisers, agencies, publishers, and platforms need to work together to navigate the challenges of the digital advertising landscape.
We hope to connect with you in Cannes next year!
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