How to Grow Your Business Worldwide

Biography

Harry is President of Blis. He is an adtech veteran and acclaimed entrepreneur.

He co-founded adtech company Amobee, which was acquired by SingTel in 2012 for $321 million, and UK mobile ad agency RingRing Media.
In his role as President, Harry oversees the development of Blis’ international expansion and global commercial partnerships.

Harry has a few medals in his collection – he received the “Rising Star of the Year Award” at the prestigious Media Week Award 2009, and was listed as a Forbes Asia “30 Under 30” Media, Marketing & Advertising Entrepreneur in 2016. He has lived and worked in Europe, the US and Asia.

Harry is also a Partner at boutique investment fund Ballpark Ventures LLP.
Outside of the office, you can find him mentoring young start-ups or cooking up a storm in the comforts of his kitchen.

In Cannes

Harry spoke at the ‘How to Grow Your Business Worldwide’ event on Tuesday 18th June.

Biography

Alex is CEO of youth-led creative network Livity: which creates a more positive future for the next generation. Working with some of the most disruptive business on the planet, Livity tackles big social issues, launches careers and works at the frontiers of popular culture. A purpose led business before either term existed, Livity won BIMA’s Entrepreneurial Business and Grand Prix in 2017. Alex is a D&AD 2019 judge, Pioneer’s Post WISE Woman, Hospital 100 and inaugural IPA Woman of Tomorrow.

In Cannes

Alex spoke at the ‘How to Grow Your Business Worldwide’ event on Tuesday 18th June.

Biography

With fourteen years of international marketing experience, James has lived and worked in Shanghai, New York, Tokyo and London. James’ career began at WPP’s global network; he was selected from 1,500 candidates to be given a place on the Ogilvy Marketing Fellowship. Within six years, he was promoted from graduate trainee, in London, to Chief of Staff for the Global CEO Ogilvy & Mather based in New York, working across a variety of blue-chip international brands such as British Airways, SAP and Unilever.

Then to China where James spent five years launching and marketing UK luxury brands. Now as Managing Director of Hylink London, James is one of the first British MD’s of a Chinese corporation in the UK. He combines his digital marketing skills with his knowledge of Chinese culture to promote Hylink’s ambition as a cultural bridge to help Western brands access China, the fastest growing consumer market in the world, and launch Chinese brands into Europe.

James is a regular speaker on digital China covering engagements with the BBC, London School of Economics, China Britain Business Council, Sotheby’s Institute of Art and Cannes Advertising Festival. James sits on the judging panel for the British Fashion Council and GQ Magazine Menswear Fund aimed at promoting the next generation of talented British designers to the China market.

In Cannes

James spoke at the ‘How To Grow Your Business’ event on Tuesday 18th June.

Biography

James was recently announced as industry’s first Advertising Exports Champion by the Advertising Association, having previously been Chair of the organisation from 2015 – 2019. In this role he works to boost the profile of UK advertising services around the world with Promote UK, a cross-industry group that works in partnership with the Department for International Trade to promote the UK as the global hub for advertising. James will play a key role in ensuring the best of UK advertising has a strong presence at Cannes Lions this summer.

A well-known figure in the industry, James co-founded adam&eve in 2008, merging with DDB in 2012 to become adam&eveDDB. It has gone on to become one of the UK’s most successful agencies, most notable for its multi award-winning John Lewis and Foster’s campaigns.

adam&eveDDB have been the Top UK Agency at Cannes for the last four years. They are the only agency to have been awarded the IPA Effectiveness Grand Prix three times in a row. James recently announced that he is soon to set-up a new start-up agency in the near future.

In Cannes

James spoke at the ‘House of Commons in Cannes’ and ‘How to Grow Your Business Worldwide’ events on Tuesday 18th June and the ‘Createch Showcase’ event on Thursday 20th June.

Biography

Louise Conolly-Smith is Head of Creative at London & Partners the Mayor of London’s promotional company, promoting London internationally as a leading world city in which to invest, work, study and visit. Her role is to set the creative strategy for the business directorate which includes attracting overseas businesses to set up in London. Previous to that she was working with North American technology companies based in London who were scaling rapidly. She is a mentor for the London & Partners Business Growth Programme and has worked at the Design Council delivering a national business support programme as well as at Business Link as a coach and mentor to high growth companies.

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

I’m coming to Cannes to help showcase the amazing creative talent in London and the UK and highlight the opportunities there are for international companies to set up and grow.

In Cannes

Louise spoke at the ‘How to grow your business worldwide’ event on Tuesday 18th June.