The LBB & Friends Beach: Cannes Content Programme 2025
We’re returning to the LBB & Friends Beach for a full five days of networking, education and connection… and some rather welcome sunshine at The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2025.
For a third consecutive year, we are thrilled to have the support of our friends at MurphyCobb Associates on our jam packed panel programme. We will be gathering important voices from across the industry and the world for a continuation of our theme of ‘Better Together’. Our concept of Better Together is the backbone of each discussion - a chance to ask brands, makers and creatives to examine how we as a collective can help do better business.
FIND OUT HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE BEACH HERE
Read on to find out all we have in store Monday 16th June - Friday 20th June.
PLEASE NOTE: Some speakers and panels are yet to be announced and this page will be updated as the lineup evolves, so make sure to check back in!
Jump to:
MONDAY 16th JUNE
10:30 - 11:15 LBB Presents: Opening Session
To Be Announced
11:30 - 12:30 Panel Presented By Razorfish: Iconic Brands: Thriving on C-Suite Driven Data Strategies
Even for top executives, leading brands and achieving long-term growth doesn’t happen without the right data strategies. Reaching today’s consumers requires elevated experiences, and better data is the fuel that powers smarter, more accurate strategic decisions that bring those experiences to life. This engaging session will cover how top brands are aligning data to marketing efforts – delivering greater personalization while remaining agile in an ever-evolving marketplace.
Moderator: Josh Campo, CEO, Razorfish
Panellists:
- Peggy Fang Roe, Executive Vice President, and Chief Customer Officer, Marriott International
- Amy Hu, CMO, New York Life
12:30 - 13:15 LBB Presents: Creative Direction in the Age of AI with Andy Bird
Andy Bird, Founding Partner, Le Truc, has always been hands-on when it comes to art direction, whether that was back in the 90s when he was cutting and pasting in the production studio or now, in 2025, as he gets to grips with the constantly evolving challenges and creative opportunities afforded by AI. In this fireside chat hosted by LBB's managing editor Addison Capper, Andy gives his perspective on how technology is really changing creative direction - and what classic principles endure.
13:30 - 14:15 Panel Presented By AudioStack: The Future of Audio in an AI-Driven Creative Landscape
As AI-powered creative tools reshape content creation and distribution, publishers are uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of transformation. From dynamic ad formats to AI-generated editorial content, artificial intelligence is enabling audio publishers to scale creativity, personalize experiences, and drive deeper engagement—faster and more efficiently than ever before.
This session will explore how audio publishers can harness AI across creative production and publishing workflows, unlocking new revenue streams and redefining their value proposition in a rapidly evolving media ecosystem. In Cannes, where innovation meets storytelling, we’ll dive into how forward-thinking publishers are integrating AI to stay ahead—re-imagining how content is created, personalized, and delivered in real time.
Panellists:
- Silke Zetzsche, VP Global Commercial Partnerships at AudioStack,
- Don Sklenka, SVP AI Personalization at Claritas
- Penri Jones, Founder & CEO at Arloesi
- Keith Soljacich, EVP, Head of Innovation at Publicis.
15:30 - 16:15 LBB Presents: In a Future of AI Agents, How Do Brands Advertise Differently?
To Be Announced
16:30 - 17:15 Panel presented by IAPI: 'Ireland's Global Marketing Impact: Driving Success at Home and Abroad'
To Be Announced
16:00 - 18:00 Happy Hour Sponsored by Clear Channel
TUESDAY 16th JUNE
10:30 - 11:15 LBB Presents: The Future of Agency Brands
Brands are magic. They shape human behaviour and turn sugar water into billion dollar businesses. They’re why we head to Cannes Lions every year. But what happens when the masters of brand creativity turn the lens on themselves? We’ll be getting deep with leaders to find out the truth behind recent network rebrands and to discuss why, in an era when big storied names have been disappearing, the agency brand matters more than ever.
Moderator: Brittney Rigby, Managing Editor, AUNZ, Little Black Book
Panellists:
- Nancy Reyes, President and CEO, BBDO Worldwide
- Tiffany Rolfe, Chair and Global Chief Creative Officer, R/GA
- Zaid Al-Qassab, Global CEO, M+C Saatchi Group
11:30 - 12:15 LBB Presents: A Heineken Showcase
Moderator : Matt Cooper, CEO & Founder, Little Black Book
Panellists:
- Nabil Nasser, Global Head, Heineken
- Bruno Bertelli, Global CEO of Le Pub LePub, CCO LePub Worldwide
12:45 - 13:30 LBB Presents: Thank F*ck for Indies
We've all heard the arguments in favour of independent agencies in terms of the work they produce and talent they attract, but does their magic spread beyond the walls of the agency? Speakers from some of the world's liveliest indie markets explore the hypothesis that a strong independent scene benefits everyone, even the networks.
Moderator: Brittney Rigby, Managing Editor, AUNZ, Little Black Book
Panellists:
- Katie Newman, Global CMO & Partner, The Grid (The Independent Network Behind Mischief, Courage and No Fixed Address)
-Micah Walker, Founder & CCO, Bear Meets Eagle on Fire
- Tim Gordon, CCO & Partner, Zulu Alpha Kilo
13:45 - 14:30 Panel Presented By MCA
To Be Announced
15:00 - 16:00 Panel Presented By thenetworkone: The Indie Forum
To Be Announced
16:00 - 18:00 Happy Hour Sponsored by LucidLink
16:30 - 17:30 Panel Presented By RWS: From Culture to Community: Finding the Universal Threads in Brand Storytelling
For decades, brands have built their global storytelling strategies around culture—defining audiences by geography, nationality, and tradition. But today, the most meaningful connections aren’t always happening along national boundaries; they’re happening within communities that transcend them. This shift is being led by digital-first generations, where identity is no longer defined solely by where you were born, but by what you believe in, what you’re passionate about, and the communities you choose to engage with.
As marketers, creatives, and brand strategists, our challenge is clear: how do we craft stories that are emotionally universal but adaptable in execution? How do we stop thinking about ‘localization’ as an afterthought and start embedding community relevance from the very start? The brands that get this right will not only reach audiences—they’ll belong to them.
Panellists To Be Announced
18:30 - 20:30 Aussie Cannes Welcome Party
LBB has partnered with Advertising Council Australia (ACA), AWARD, and leading production company Truce Production Co. to host an event for Australians gathering at the Cannes Festival of Creativity in June.
WEDNESDAY 18th JUNE
10:00 - 10:30 LBB presents: The CMO Agenda
Just when marketers were starting to get a handle on the AI revolution and the cost-of-living crisis, 2025 throws a fresh set of challenges into the mix. In this panel, top brand leaders unpack how they're navigating today’s ever-shifting landscape of budget choices — from where they’re really spending their advertising and marketing dollars to how this is reshaping partnerships, priorities, and ways of working. What’s changing, what’s staying, and where’s the smart money going next?
Moderator: Brittney Rigby, Managing Editor, AUNZ, Little Black Book
Panellists:
- Laura Jones, CMO, Instacart
- Desiree DeRose, CMO, Angel Soft
- Grainne Wafer, CMO, Diageo
- Meredith Kelly, Global Head of Marketing, Škoda Auto
11:30 - 12:30 Panel Presented By Porter Novelli
To Be Announced
13:00 - 16:00 Panel Presented By ICCO PR: The Great Transformation: Integrating AI To Accelerate Creativity and Scale Impact With Precision
AI isn’t just changing workflows. It’s overhauling how organizations think, create, and grow. From Fortune 500 brands to public institutions and mission-driven nonprofits, a new wave of leaders is using AI to rethink strategy, accelerate creativity, and scale impact with precision.
This panel explores how AI can deliver more strategic teams, sharper decisions, and faster execution—without sacrificing meaning or mission. Whether you're driving growth, shaping policy, or deepening engagement, this conversation will unpack what true AI-powered transformations look like—and how to lead them.
Moderator: Sarah Van Mosel, Executive Director, PVBLIC Foundation
Panellists:
- Ian Chapman-Banks, CEO, SQREEM
- Debora Koyama, Chief of Staff to CEO, Unilever
- Sami Viitamäki, Global Chief Strategy & AI Officer, BOND
16:00 - 18:00 Happy Hour Sponsored by ICCO PR
THURSDAY 19th JUNE
10:30 - 11:15 Panel Presented by LBB
To Be Announced
11:30 - 12:15 Panel Presented by MCA
To Be Announced
12:30 - 13:15 Panel Presented by LBB, WPP & Coca-Cola
Moderator: Matt Cooper, Founder & CEO, Little Black Book
Panellists:
- Laurent Ezekiel, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, WPP
- Islam Eldessouky,Global VP Creative Strategy & Content, CCTM
14:15 - 15:15 Panel Presented by GPN: Tech as Muse? Amplifying Human Creativity in Production
Could technology become the ultimate muse for human creativity? Today, it offers a wealth of new tools and perspectives—inviting us to explore fresh possibilities in storytelling, innovation, and production craft. This panel will showcase fresh, practical insights and future-facing approaches and will present six immediate toolboxes for creative production.
Moderator: Peter Grasse, Founder, Mr. Positive, Japan
Panellists:
- Toby Walsham, Made by Humans / Imagine This
- Idse Grotenhuis, Ready Set Studios, Amsterdam
- Carla Genoud, Mamma Team, Spain
- Ines King, CSR Lead, Green Production
- Thomas Amoedo, Landia / Morning / Entropy
- Shauna Seresin, Minerva
15:30 - 16:15 Panel Presented by LBB
To Be Announced
16:00 - 18:00 Happy Hour
FRIDAY 20th JUNE
12:30 LBB's Friday Farewell Lunch (£200pp)
We are hosting an ultimate send-off to a whirlwind week of creativity, inspiration, and connection. Join us at the ‘last supper’ of Cannes Lions 2025 - a prime opportunity to strengthen relationships, reflect on the week, and make those final, valuable connections before heading home.
For £200, your ticket includes a three-course meal, soft drinks and Provence Rosé to make your networking skills truly legendary. Lunch starts at 12:30pm Friday and LBB & Friends Beach is open 10:30 to 18:00 that day.
Content Sponsor:
Partners:
72Point. | Adobe | APA - Advertising Producers Association | AudioStack & Claritas | Clear Channel UK | Croud | Girl&Bear | GPN - Global Production Network | IAPI | ICCO – International Communications Consultancy Organisation | ITG - Inspired Thinking Group | KEEP | LIA - London International Awards | LucidLink | MSQ | Nouri Films | Peach | Porter Novelli | Razorfish | RWS Small World Studio | Shutterstock Studios | thenetworkone | Zulu Alpha Kilo
