How Do You Lead World Class Creativity?

Biography

Alex Mahon is the CEO of Channel 4.  She was previously CEO of Foundry, the leading visual and 3D effects software firm and spent 15 years running creative production companies where her focus was high-growth international businesses. She was CEO of Shine Group and also worked at Talkback Thames, FremantleMedia Group and RTL Group. Alex started her career as a PhD Physicist.

In Cannes

Alex spoke at the ‘ Do You Lead World Class Creativity’ event on Thursday 20th June.

Biography

Mike’s experience spans over 30 years. He has directed award-winning films for some of the UK’s best-loved brands (including BBC, Next and Robinsons) he’s supervised on BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs, feature films Nanny McPhee and Your Highness. His Oscar-winning company is a world leader in multi-platform storytelling and innovation.

What does it mean to you to be representing the UK at Cannes Lions this summer?

This is my 25th consecutive year at Cannes Lions, it has evolved into a world-class hub for creatives, marketers, brands and tech platforms. It showcases thought leadership and creative effectiveness, providing a global platform for debating the big issues and future trends.

In Cannes

Mike spoke at the ‘Immersive Technology is Reshaping the Storytelling Experience’ event on Wednesday 19th June and the ‘How do you lead world class creativity?’ event on Thursday 20th June.

Biography

David was appointed CEO in 2015, having joined GMG in 2011.  He has previously held a number of senior roles including at ITV and Shine Entertainment.  He is also chair of GMG Ventures, a $50m fund making early stage investments in the media technology sector.

David is a member of The Scott Trust, the ultimate owner of the Guardian, a non-executive director of The British Fashion Council and a voting member of BAFTA.

What does it mean to you to be representing the UK at Cannes Lions this summer?

Cannes continues to be one of the key annual moments where clients and publishers like the Guardian can discuss the future of advertising and marketing. As someone who’s spent time in both worlds, it’s a great chance to meet colleagues and see the best of advertising creativity.

In Cannes

David spoke at the ‘How do you lead world class creativity?’ event on Thursday 20th June.

Biography

Kate has been at M&C Saatchi as CMO since January 2018, joining Giles Hedger CEO and Justin Tindall CCO as part of the new leadership team. Having previously set up, grown and sold her own very successful PR agency, Kate brings an entrepreneurial energy and broad skills set to the agency and has played a key role in the agency’s recent transformation.

Kate has worked in brand communications for the last 20 years. Her previous agency worked with a host of global sport brands and rights holders including Adidas, Technogym, The North Face, UEFA, The European Tour, The Ryder Cup and UEFA. She went on to sel this agenc twice, first in 2012 and then again in 2014.

Passionate about women’s sport, Kate has just completed a rare 6 year term on the Board of Sport England, during which time she wrote the initial brief for This Girl Can and was strategic lead for the project. Kate also worked with UEFA on the European roll out of their first women’s participation campaign We Play Strong and is on the UK Government’s Sport & Business Council.

Biography

Tracy is Executive Chair of Newsworks, championing Britain’s news media to readers and advertisers. In her career she has tackled some of the UK’s biggest marketing and communications challenges, most recently as UK CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network. She is a trailblazer for diversity and inclusion and hailed as a ‘Woman to Watch Europe’ by Ad Age.

What does it mean to you to be representing the UK at Cannes Lions this summer? 

As we pivot into a creative economy, we will see a growing focus on ideas over technology. Creativity and innovation thrive in diverse environments where different voices and opinions are supported and reflected alongside each other. I’m looking forward to being inspired by the work at Cannes and having time to reflect on how news brands and journalists can fuel this creative renaissance.

In Cannes

Tracy spoke at the ‘How do you lead world class creativity?’ event on Thursday 20th June.

Biography

Justin Cochrane is the CEO of Clear Channel International’s Europe region, with overall responsibility for 17 European markets. 

Following his graduation from the University of Oxford in 1995 with a degree in Engineering, Justin trained as a Chartered Accountant, qualifying in 1999. After a brief spell in financial services (Bank One/JP Morgan) Justin escaped to the world of media, joining Clear Channel at the end of 2001 as Group Accountant in the International group.

By 2007, he was Group Finance Director for the same division and then moved to Clear Channel UK in 2010 as Chief Financial Officer. In 2013, Justin became Chief Operating Officer and in 2015 took up the role of Chief Executive Officer, before being named Chair of Outsmart, the trade body for UK Out of Home, in 2016.  He was appointed Clear Channel International’s CEO of Europe in 2019.

In Cannes

Justin spoke at the ‘How Do You Lead World Class Creativity’ event on Thursday 20 June.