8:55 am  
Political Landscape: Global Affairs, Policy, and Perspective
Robert M. Gates, 22nd Secretary of Defense of the United States; Principal, RiceHadleyGates LLC
Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Executive Vice Chairman, Hearst; Chairman, The Paley Center for Media

9:40 am

The Future of Advertising
Mark Read, CEO, WPP
Moderator: Michael Kassan, Chairman & CEO, MediaLink
Advertising is a thriving, $630 billion industry, but it is also one facing change and disruption as technology empowers people to dismiss commercial messages, and consumer privacy issues threaten the data collection required to transform an ad into a meaningful message. Artificial intelligence, Voice, and the Internet of Things are full of potential for marketers, but they also have the power to remove brands entirely from the consumer conversation. Mark Read, CEO of WPP, is leading WPP’s global networks (and their clients) through the turmoil and transformation of 21st Century marketing, testing new models, investing in new personalized, automated, immersive, experiential, and measurable. In this session, the ad boss will share his projections, recommendations, and challenges in a conversation led by the industry’s most prominent advisor, MediaLink’s CEO Michael Kassan. 

10:15 am
A View from the Top: Navigating New Terrain in Mass Media Today: A Conversation with Arnaud de Puyfontaine, President & CEO, Vivendi 
Moderator: Adam Bird, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
From content creation and distribution to acquisitions in music and gaming, Vivendi is recognized as a powerhouse in entertainment. Join us for a one-on-one conversation with the man at the helm of it all, Arnaud de Puyfontaine. This session will provide a glimpse behind the curtain of an integrated content, media, and communications group that is navigating the future of media in a multiplatform world.

10:50 am 
Maintaining a Healthy Media Sector in the Digital Age
Rt Hon Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of State for the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
The digital revolution continues to transform the media landscape on both sides of the Atlantic. Secretary of State for the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Wright will discuss the importance of the media in tackling the challenges of this new era, and how policymakers and broadcasters can ensure the sector’s health and sustainability.

11:10 am

Snapchat: Reimagining Communications and Content on Mobile: A Conversation with Evan Spiegel, Cofounder & CEO, Snap Inc.
Moderator: Thorold Barker, Editor, WSJ Europe, Middle East and Africa 
Snap Inc. is recognized as one of the leading innovators on mobile. The company launched its Discover page four years ago as the best place to find news and entertainment from credible and leading editorial voices. Snapchat has grown from eighteen editorial partners to over one hundred globally, has added over sixty original series from the likes of NBC, CBS, ESPN, Vertical Networks, and the NBA. Most recently, it launched Snap Originals and its first serialized scripted shows and docuseries. In this one-on-one conversation, Evan Spiegel, Cofounder and CEO of Snap Inc., will dive into mobile content, personalizing the experience and staying true to your values in a landscape that has been completely reimagined.

11:40 am Coffee Break 

12:00 pm 
Building a Global Brand on a Commitment to Community: A Conversation with Faiza J. Saeed & Howard Schultz 
Faiza J. Saeed, Presiding Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Howard Schultz, Chairman Emeritus, Starbucks Coffee Company
Great leaders are visionaries, take risks, have an eye for talent, and know the value of human capital. They have a willingness to listen, a craving to learn, and a desire to support their teams and communities. When we create a strong sense of community, we are creating stronger workforces, stronger economies, and a stronger collective voice with the power to have the greatest social impact. Join Howard Schultz and Faiza Saeed in a candid conversation about brand integrity, company culture, and how putting employees first pays dividends to customers and stakeholders alike.

12:50 pm
The Case for Trust & Transparency
Megan Clarken, Global President of Watch, Nielsen 
Why do marketers hold back their spend? What do media owners see inside their walled gardens? In this era dominated by concerns about privacy, protectionism, and policy, we yearn for heavier doses of trust and transparency. During this presentation, Megan Clarken will share what the industry needs to know about measurement, and why you should care.  

1:05 pm Lunch

2:05 pm
Cybersecurity & Mitigating Risk: Protecting Your Privacy, Content, Clients, and Users

Robert Hannigan, European Executive Chairman, BlueVoyant Cyber Security
Sir Julian King, Commissioner for the Security Union, European Commission
Jim Richberg, National Intelligence Manager for Cyber, U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Sir John Sawers, Chairman & Partner, Macro Advisory Partners
Moderator: Matthew Gould, Director General for Digital and Media Policy, UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 
As the internet continues to expand, and technology advances, one of the most critical issues facing world leaders, businesses, and the general public today is cybersecurity. Breaches are inevitable and millions are affected. This panel of experts will discuss what you need to know and look out for to mitigate risk and protect your intellectual property, confidential exchanges, and personal data.

2:40 pm

From Studios to Stadiums: Where Business Models of the Past Meet Technology of the Future: A Conversation with Aryeh B. Bourkoff & Strauss Zelnick
Aryeh B. Bourkoff, Founder & CEO, LionTree
Strauss Zelnick, Chairman & CEO, Take-Two Interactive Software 
Having launched his career in the motion picture business by elevating the little-known property Dirty Dancing into a worldwide phenomenon, Strauss Zelnick’s success can be credited to his ability to see ahead of the curve. Today, he is doing the same in a video gaming industry that has upended consumer behavior, with eSports projected to generate $905 million in 2018 alone. With deep industry insight and a focused investment approach, he started ZMC in 2001 and has evolved it into a global media enterprise with unparalleled experience in executing private equity investments in the media and communications industry. In 2007, he took on underdog Take-Two Interactive and transformed it into a brand that is recognized today for such blockbuster titles as Grand Theft Auto, NBA2K, WWE2K, and the game that has taken the world by storm, Red Dead Redemption 2. In this one-on-one conversation with LionTree CEO Aryeh Bourkoff, the pair will discuss the trends that are dominating the market and examine how businesses can leverage new advances in technology before the competition beats them to it.

3:15 pm

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency: Modern Solutions to Age-Old Problems

Zeeshan Feroz, CEO, Coinbase 
Jason Kelley, General Manager, Blockchain Services, IBM Global Business Services
Amber Nystrom, Cofounder, 5th Element Group PBC
Brock Pierce, Chairman, Bitcoin Foundation
Moderator: Cristiana Falcone, CEO, JMCMRJ Sorrell Foundation 
Beyond the often debated topic of cryptocurrency is the underlying technology of blockchain. With applications that can contribute to rights management, the distribution of royalties, and innovative ways to fund projects, this panel will delve into the utilizations of blockchain and cryptocurrencies as they apply to the media sector and beyond.

3:50 pm
Aligning Your Brand in a Cause-Driven World
Marc Mathieu, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics America
Roxane Philson, Chief Marketing Officer, ONE 
Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and President for Healthcare, Mastercard
Dara Treseder, Chief Marketing Officer, GE Business Innovations and GE Ventures
Moderator: Joe Marchese, President, Advertising Revenue, Fox Networks Group 
A rapidly emerging trend in the mindset of the consumer is an emphasis on strong values, not only in their lives and their careers, but in their spending habits. This especially holds true for millennial audiences. Companies are responding by developing campaigns where purpose meets profit and are injecting their brands into the forefront of today’s most important cultural conversations.  This strategy has driven growth while also making a significant impact on society. Our panel of marketing experts will discuss finding meaning in messaging and how doing good can also be good for business.   

4:20 pm Coffee Break

4:35 pm
Silicon Europe: A New Tech and Entrepreneurship Generation 
Pascal Cagni, France’s Ambassador for International Investment; Chairman of Business France 
Moderator: Nate Lanxon, Technology Editor, Bloomberg News

4:55 pm
Telecom in the Modern Media Landscape
Dexter Goei, CEO, Altice USA
Ben Verwaayen, General Partner, Keen Venture Partners
Moderator: Jonathan Miller, CEO, Integrated Media Company 
Whereas Media and Telecommunications were completely separate entities a decade ago, they now operate under the same roof.  The ways in which content is consumed has brought the two worlds together, and in doing so, has presented us with questions for the future.  Business models are changing accordingly in this evolving landscape. Our panel will address issues concerning regulation, infrastructure, technology, investments of time and money, and the trends that we will need to pay attention to not only for today, but for the years to come.

5:30 pm
State of News 2018: Polarization, Propaganda, and Partisanship

Jamie Angus, Director, BBC World Service Group
Thorold Barker, Editor, WSJ Europe, Middle East and Africa
Thomas Evans, Vice President, EMEA Newsgathering & London Bureau Chief, CNN
James Harding, Cofounder & Editor, Tortoise Media 
Moderator: Stewart Purvis, Board Director, Channel 4, UK 
Journalism today is in a time of flux. The media industry must contend with the challenging economics of quality journalism, threats to press freedom worldwide, and a crisis of integrity and trust. In 1976, Gallup found that 72% of Americans had confidence in the news media. As of last year, that number was closer to 32%. Thanks to global access to the internet and the rise of social media, the journalism industry continues to morph in unexpected ways. This panel will discuss the state of the media in 2018 and consider the opportunities and challenges ahead for journalists.

6:00 pm
Closing Remarks

Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Executive Vice Chairman, Hearst; Chairman, The Paley Center for Media