Institute of Communication Agencies' FFWD Advertising and Marketing Week 2017 unveils keynote speakers

-- Canada's must-attend strategy, innovation and creativity event features industry's top leaders in content, data, strategy and creative --

TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2016 /CNW/ - The Institute of Communication Agencies' (www.icacanada.ca) FFWD Advertising & Marketing Week 2017 (www.advertisingweek.ca) is Canada's largest and most anticipated annual communications and advertising event taking place January 30 – February 3  at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, Ontario. The event consists of more than 40 sessions, keynotes, panel presentations and workshops by some of the most influential thought-leaders in the industry, offering a forum to highlight new ideas, future trends and discussions to embolden those in the marketing, advertising and communications communities. FFWD is thrilled to announce a diverse lineup of renowned speakers from around the globe, and highlights of the week's packed calendar underscored by the theme, Canada Needs You, created by Cossette.

"We only put ourselves at greater risk when we fail to push ourselves, to carve new paths and take calculated risks. Canada was built on challenging convention and will continue to be defined by the brave and adventurous," said Jason Chaney, chief strategy officer at Cossette. "We have a collective obligation to future marketers and consumers to take control, to lead Canada to become global leaders in marketing and advertising and the creation of culture. FFWD allows us to come together, as an industry, to begin to define our future and plan for success."

FFWD 2017's opening lunch features visionary speakers, Jess Greenwood, VP of content and partnerships at R/GA and Tom Morton, SVP of strategy at R/GA in New York City. Jess joined R/GA as director of business strategy in February 2012 after two years as director of Contagious Insider at Contagious Communications. Following her brief tenure on Google's creative partnerships team, Jess returned to R/GA in October 2014. She is a founding member of Papele Caneta, "a global collaboration between strategists across the world to solve some of society's toughest problems." As leader of R/GA's strategy department, Tom Morton pioneers the development of everything from engaging campaigns to revolutionary services and platforms. Tom was previously director of strategy at Co:Collective, and chief strategy officer at Havas Worldwide. He has advised global enterprises such as MoMA, Google, Coke, Charles Schwab, PlayStation and Virgin, earning gold Effies and IPA Effectiveness Awards. Tom is a jury chair for the 4As Jay Chiat strategy awards, and sits on the advisory board of Wharton Business School's Future of Advertising Program.

Leading the Morning Master Series throughout the week are four highly esteemed professors of marketing from Canada's top business schools: David Soberman from University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, Kyle Murray from University of Alberta's Business School, Kenneth Wong from the Smith School of Business at Queen's University, and Tim Silk from University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business. David Soberman will lead a discussion on Customers: the Starting Point for Great Companies, while Kyle Murray will examine the advances in behavioural science that are changing the way we think about connecting with consumers.  Kenneth Wong will advise on Small Box Marketing, and Tim Silk will discuss The Personification of Brands: Pitfalls and Best Practices.  At the forefront of their academic fields, the line-up of talent will share cutting edge research, insights and ingenuity.

Guiding the Direct Marketing Association of Canada (DMAC) Workshop is Derek Lackey, CEO of -30- Strategic Communications and president of DMAC. Derek will direct guests on How to Create a CRTC CASL Compliance Program within any organization.

David Phillips, president and COO of NLogic, will lead the NLogic Workshop to help audiences create quicker, simpler ways to find out what, where and when audiences are watching and listening.

Anna Blender, highly sought after industry expert and regular advisor to multinational corporations, governments and NGOs, also SVP and head of the nation's branding practice at BAV® Consulting, will kick off the last day of FFWD 2017 with a discussion on The Power of Brand Canada as a Marketing Tool.  According to millennials, "Brand Canada" was the number one brand globally; it is a true ambassador for its companies abroad.

The ICA is also pleased to announce that Mark Tutssel, one of the most awarded creatives in the industry and named by Campaign Magazine as the "No. 1 Worldwide Creative Director", will headline FFWD's closing luncheon sponsored by The Globe and Mail.  Mark is the global chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide and recently appointed creative chairman of Publicis Communications.  He will be interviewed by Susan Krashinsky, the Globe and Mail's advertising and marketing reporter.

"The ICA is honoured to welcome such a distinguished group of speakers to FFWD 2017 to share their visions and insights with Canada's marketing and communications industry professionals," said Scott Knox, president and CEO of ICA.  "We are pleased to bring them together to discuss the state of our industry in the context of our theme of Canada Needs You, and how we can invigorate those within it to continue to innovate and be bold on the global stage."

Ticket packages for FFWD Advertising and Marketing Week 2017 are now on sale. The Platinum Full Week Pass (transferable) is $799; the Gold Full Week Pass (transferable) is $649. Individual tickets are also available for purchase at http://advertisingweek.ca/registration/. Ticket prices will increase after October 31.

Confirmed partners to date include Bell Media, Tube Mogul, Corus Media, NLogic, Post Media, Facebook, Google, Twitter, thinktv Addictive Mobility, Rogers, Yahoo, Sharethrough, SESQUI, Miller Thomson, Ad Club, OMAC, CCAB, Sapient Nitro, BAV Consulting (research division of WPP holding agency), A2C, IAB Canada, NABS, Morning Master Series (participating schools: Queens, Alberta, U of T, UBC), Ipsos, Strategy, nextMedia, Marketing Magazine, Porter Airlines, Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA), Canada's Next Top Ad Executive (CNTAE), Uber, York Marketing Association (YMA), Captivate, Marketing Talent Inc., Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada (DACC), Rouge Media, Notable, Interactive Ontario (I.O.), Steam Whistle, UB Media, Pepsi Co – Aquafina, Starbucks, Ad Lounge, Red Bull, Pizza Nova, Masthead, BizOn, Media in Toronto, DX3, Yconic, Canadian News Wire (CNW), Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), Got Style, and The Siren Group Inc., among others.

About FFWD: Advertising and Marketing Week
The Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA) spearheads FFWD Advertising & Marketing Week along with its member agencies, other related associations, the media and other companies involved with the communications industry. For more information and updates on events and scheduling, visit www.advertisingweek.ca or on Twitter @adweekcdn #FFWD2017

About the ICA
The Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA) (http://www.icacanada.ca) is the professional business association, which represents Canada's communication and advertising agencies. The ICA's mission is to champion commercial creativity, amplify the industry's economic impact, and to embrace and drive change. As such, the ICA promotes thought leadership, higher standards and best practices. It serves as the largest source of information, advice, education and training for Canada's communication and advertising industry. ICA's member agencies and subsidiaries account for over 75 per cent of all national advertising in Canada, with an economic impact worth more than $19 billion annually. More information about the ICA and its initiatives can be found at www.icacanada.ca or on Twitter @icacanada.

SOURCE Institute of Communication Agencies

Image with caption: "FFWD Advertising & Marketing Week 2017. Image credit: Jay Chaney, Chief Strategy Officer at Cossette (CNW Group/Institute of Communication Agencies)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161114_C6925_PHOTO_EN_816066.jpg

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