4A's Hosts 20th Annual Strategy Festival Celebrating Data, Humanity and Strategic Excellence

NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4A's, the leading trade association representing the advertising agency business, will host its 20th annual Strategy Festival in NYC, Sept.12-14. With this year's theme of "Data and Humanity," the festival will explore the new frontier in planning, where data and human insight come together to inspire strategic thinking.

This year's event includes three days of keynote speakers, workshops, panel discussions and case studies—beginning with the welcome reception and the Jay Chiat Awards presentation on Sept. 12. The Jay Chiat awards honor strategic thinking and recognize advertising professionals who develop breakthrough insights and initiate creative campaigns that inspire both consumers and business around the globe. In August, the 4A's released the short list of nominees, which includes 44 entries in six categories: Global Strategy, Connection Strategy, National Strategy, Nonprofit, Product/Service Creation and Regional Strategy.

"4A's Strategy Festival is a great opportunity for our member agencies to discuss and tackle some of today's biggest challenges and opportunities facing strategy professionals," said Mollie Rosen, EVP, agency relations and membership. "We have an amazing list of speakers this year that includes a mix of recognized names and the up-and-coming minds who are shaping the future of the industry."

Speakers include:

• Amy Winger, chief strategy officer, VML
• Andrea Ring, chief strategy officer, Big Spaceship
• Brian Moroz, creative strategist, Google Zoo
• Dave Wallinga, vice president of marketing, Panda Restaurant Group
• David Lubars, chief creative officer, BBDO Worldwide, Chairman, BBDO North America
• Eliza Esquivel, senior director of global brand strategy, naming, management & partnerships, Microsoft
• Gareth Kay, co-founder, Chapter
• Kodi Foster, senior vice president, data strategy, Viacom
• Lizzie Widhelm, SVP ad product sales & strategy, Pandora
• Matt Walsh, founder, Green Stone
• Megan Imbres, director of marketing, Netflix
• Merry Baskin, founder, Baskin Shark
• Nancie Ruder, founder, Noetic Consultants
• Nelson Freitas, chief strategy officer, North America, Wunderman
• Paul Jankowski, founder, New Heartland Group
• Rei Inamoto, founding partner, Inamoto & Co.
• Rishad Tobaccowala, strategy and growth officer, Publicis Groupe
• Robin Danielson Hafitz, founder & CEO, Open Mind Strategy, LLC
• Rosemarie Ryan, co-founder, co-CEO, Co:Collective
• Venetia Taylor, group strategic planner, Google

4A's Strategy Festival will take place at the Andaz Wall Street Hotel at 75 Wall Street (between Pearl St. and Water Street). To register, please visit: http://www.aaaa.org/event/4as-strategy-festival-2017/.

The conference was programmed by the 4A's Strategy Committee and chaired by Ed Cotton with Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners and senior strategy leaders from 4A's member agencies such as SapientRazorfish, R/GA, FCB Chicago, McCann, 360i, Maxus and MEC.

For further details, please visit: http://stratfest.aaaa.org/.

About the 4A's Strategy Festival
The 4A's Strategy Festival celebrates the strategist community inside agencies and is home to the 4A's Jay Chiat Awards. The festival examines the intersection of creative strategy and business opportunity, helping planners and strategists unlock their entrepreneurial spirit to innovate and grow with their advertising agencies and clients. The festival features notables from the periphery of the agency world—academics, researchers, marketers and authors—for inspiration that will help hone the core skills of creative executives and make them better at their craft. Additional information can be found at http://stratfest.aaaa.org/. Follow the conversation: #4AsStratFest.

About the 4A's Jay Chiat Awards for Strategic Excellence
Now in its 20th year, the Jay Chiat Awards are global awards recognizing the best strategic thinking in marketing, media and advertising around the world. Learn more about the Jay Chiat Awards here: http://stratfest.aaaa.org/jaychiats/.

About the 4A's
The 4A's, founded in 1917, is the leading authority representing the marketing communications agency business. It provides leadership, advocacy and training that empower agencies to innovate, evolve and grow. It serves 740 member agencies across 1,400 offices that control more than 85 percent of total U.S. advertising spend. The 4A's is committed to protecting the best interests of its members, their employees and the industry at large. Its Benefits division insures more than 164,000 agency professionals, and the D.C. office advocates for policies that best support a thriving advertising industry. With its best-in-class learning and career development programs, 4A's and its Foundation fuel a robust diversity pipeline of talent for its members and the marketing and media industry, fostering the next generation of leaders. For more information, please visit www.aaaa.org.

Media Contact:
Kate Urbach
Havas PR
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SOURCE 4A's