Advertising Meets Politics at First LEAD Scotland

The Advertising Association, which promotes the rights, roles and responsibilities of advertising on behalf of the UK industry to politicians and policy-makers, is holding its inaugural LEAD Scotland summit in Edinburgh on November 14th 2019. The event will bring together leaders from advertising and politics with a unique focus on Scotland’s advertising industry and its role in Scottish economy and wider society.

A stellar speaker line-up will be chaired by Advertising Association President Keith Weed – twice named by Forbes as the most influential marketeer in the world as CMCO of Unilever – with an opening keynote from Mark Evans, MD Marketing & Digital, Direct Line Group. Joining him will be leaders of industry including Simon Pitts, Chief Executive, STV; Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Fringe Festival; Pauline Aylesbury, Head of Marketing & Insight, Scottish Government and Andrew Mortimer, Director of Client Strategy, Sky Media. 

LEAD Scotland’s agenda will tackle how the Scottish advertising industry can help to rebuild public trust in advertising, the unique strengths of Scotland as an advertising market and how the advertising industry can turbo-charge growth and entrepreneurialism in Scotland. The issues will be explored by inspirational leaders including Rachel Aldighieri, Managing Director, Data & Marketing Association; Simon Watson, Managing Director, Personal Banking, RBS; Brian Coane, Partner, The Leith Agency; Karen Fraser MBE, Director, Credos and Head of Strategy, Advertising Association and Anneli Ritari-Stewart, Managing Director, iProspect.

A special political perspective with be provided by Philip Rycroft, Political Commentator and formerly Permanent Secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Stephen Woodford, Chief Executive, Advertising Association, said: “Scottish advertising has developed as a unique and distinctive force in the industry. Our Advertising Pays Scotland report demonstrated that every £1 spent on advertising in Scotland generates £5 for the Scottish economy, so for the £1.7 billion spent on advertising, the contribution to Scottish GDP was £8.8 billion – representing 5.6% of the Scottish economy. Those advertising revenues support 42,000 jobs across Scotland, including those for people involved in the commissioning, creation and production of advertising.

“With our industry proving a real Scottish success story, we are looking forward to working with our stellar speaker line up to make LEAD Scotland truly an event to remember for Scottish advertising.”

Brian Coane, Chairman of Advertising Association Scotland and Partner, The Leith Agency, said: "It’s a critical time for advertising and the opportunities to communicate have never been greater, but it’s time to look at what this all means for the industry in Scotland. LEAD Scotland will be a landmark event in bringing together the industry in the country to reassess it values and reset our relationship with audiences and stakeholders. With leading speakers from advertisers, media and politics it will set an inspiring, fresh direction for industry in Scotland and beyond."

 

Tickets are priced at £195 (+VAT) and can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lead-scotland-tickets-62841315065

 

Where – Assembly Rooms, 54 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2LR

When – 14 November 2019, 08:30-13:00