Marketing experts from across the globe will gather with Facebook, Google and TikTok at the Worldwide Partners Global Summit to discuss current and future trends in the industry in light of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The heads of 70 leading independent agencies across 40 countries will meet virtually this week to discuss the challenges facing the industry and how the industry can best prepare clients for the future. The theme of the summit is “Swerve”, noting the pivotal moment facing organisations and the importance of adapting.

Ardmore, one of Ireland’s leading agencies, is a long-standing partner and shareholder of the global network and its Chairman, John Keane, is a former Chair and current Chairman Emeritus of the organisation.

Speaking about the themes of the Summit, John Keane said:

It is in times like this that a global network such as Worldwide Partners really shows its worth and value. We’re bringing together the best minds in creative, brand and marketing communications from across the world to discuss how we can support our clients to adapt and innovate. We’re trusted advisers to the people and organisations we work with, and it is those who see this moment as a time to move quickly and nimbly that will successfully navigate this challenging time.”

“At Ardmore we know that it’s a solutions and actions-based mindset that is needed by our clients, and we’re delighted to be participating in this important Summit to discuss what we as an industry can do together in the coming months,” added Keane.

Rishad Tobaccowala, Author and Former Publicis Chief Growth Officer, is the opening speaker and will be sharing his thoughts on “Swerving with soul” and how to lead and improvise in new, strange times.

Global tech firms Google, Facebook and TikTok will deliver lectures and sessions which consider the future of eCommerce and the power of community-focused communications in brand development.

Other leading industry experts speaking at the Summit include: Simon Le Bon, Duran Duran and Founder of SYN; Carrie Siefer, General Manager, Global Web Index; Jan Jensen, Senior, Director, Solutions Engineering, Deltek Agency Solutions; Noreen Henry, Chief Revenue Officer, Sojern; and, Brett Peterson, Regional Vice President, CausalIQ.

In difficult times like this, there may be temptation to sit back and react. But we know that the organisations that are bold, innovative, and decisive with their brand communications will be the ones best placed to avail of the opportunities and mitigate the challenges ahead in the coming months”, added Keane.

Worldwide Partners, Inc. (WPI) is one of the largest networks of independent advertising and marketing communications agencies in the world, comprised of nearly 70 independent agencies located in 40 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America.

Worldwide Partners offers brand marketers a customized, multinational service platform built to ensure the effective implementation of global marketing principles within a local market context to optimise marketing efficiency and to maximise business return. Many of the world’s most heralded brands across 90 industry verticals gain access to best-in-class, entrepreneurially-driven agencies steeped in local knowledge in all markets where they engage WPI agencies.