LEAD, the Advertising Industry’s Annual Summit, Returns for 2025

The Advertising Association, the IPA and ISBA will hold their annual conference on 6 February 2025 at the QEII Centre in London, to set the industry’s agenda for the year ahead.

LEAD, the advertising industry’s summit where leaders from across the industry gather, will be steered by the three presidents of the tripartite, including the IPA’s Josh Krichefski, CEO of GroupM EMEA & UK, and ISBA’s Pete Markey, CMO of Boots. Samira Ahmed, journalist and broadcaster, returns as host of the event and a full speaker line-up will be announced shortly. 

The theme for LEAD 2025 will be growth and value, with the event shining a light on the industry’s economic and social contribution to the UK’s growth at a time when the country is led by a new government, the first formed by the Labour party in 14 years. 

The summit will take a half-day format, featuring an exceptional line-up of political and advertising business leaders, and offering excellent networking opportunities with over 400 senior-level professionals from across the combined memberships. Partners for LEAD 2025 include Ozone, Google and Meta. 

Phil Smith, director general, ISBA, said, “As government and industry focus together on growth, the importance of a trustworthy advertising ecosystem cannot be underestimated. The summit will talk to our collective efforts to ensure the UK remains one of the best places in the world for companies to compete, innovate and invest in the reputation of their brands.”

Paul Bainsfair, director general, IPA, said, “This is an important annual set piece for our industry because it is the only time we can collectively come together to hear the up-to-date economic and political outlooks and consider the big picture business issues outside of our own initiatives. It is a moment when we can know, and be proud of, the UK’s creative achievement and contribution to the economy.”

Stephen Woodford, CEO, Advertising Association, said, “With our new Government’s welcome objective for the UK to have the highest growth in the G7, the role of advertising as an engine for the economy has never been more important. This summit will take a fresh look at advertising’s power to help business compete, innovate and create jobs at a time of tremendous change.” 

LEAD – first established in 2012 – has seen industry and media figures take to the stage including The Rt Hon Gordon Brown, Dame Carolyn McCall, Evan Davis, Nina Hossain, Steve Richards and Lord Grade, along with many Government Ministers, including DCMS Secretaries of State.

A full programme for the event will be published in the coming weeks. 

Tickets are now on sale with discounts available to AA, IPA and ISBA members. For more information, please visit the website here.