SA represented at 2024 AdForum Summit in New York City

Among these will be South Africa’s Johanna McDowell, founder and CEO of the Independent Agency Search & Selection Company (IAS) and partner for Scopen Africa.

Johanna McDowell

The Summit, held twice a year in selected cities across the globe, will provide the IAS with the opportunity to assess and forecast global communication industry trends and, with up-to-date information constantly being exchanged, an exclusive forum to share ideas, challenges and opportunities.

Big name agencies

More than 20 participating agencies including big names like WPP Group, DDB Worldwide, Uncommon and Stagwel, as well as some new independent players, will be visited during the Summit week.

These participating agencies will have private meetings with more than 35 global search consultants at their respective offices to have 1-on-1 conversations about agency goals, strategies, key corporate messages and to showcase their creative visions and talents.

“The main reason we accept the invitation to attend is to ensure that the IAS continues to be at the forefront of global issues and trends facing the advertising and communication industry and the complex world of agency selection.

Source: © Nomadic Matt Nomadic Matt The 2024 AdForum Summit takes place in New York City next week, from 13 to 17 May 2024

The future of the marketing communications industry

“AdForum offers us the chance to discuss the future of the marketing communications industry. This will be especially important this year with the rapid strategic shifts taking place within agencies as they grapple with the new needs of marketers, new ways an agency can partner with business, as they seek to break through the old, embrace change and bravely tackle the next frontier of challenges,” says McDowell.

AI: the major theme

The major theme running through the Summit this year will be AI, from a multitude of angles, looking at the value it can bring across areas from creativity to customer relations.

The AdForum Summit is an invitation-only event that brings top players in the industry together and offers them the chance to grow their business, network, and experience how they are shaping the future.

The IAS is the only South African pitch consulting company that has been participating consistently in the summit over the past 17 years.

For South African agencies, brands and marketers, IAS will be hosting a Masterclass in June where insights and learnings, along with new case studies, from this summit will be shared.