Paul Morris, Head of Digital & Social Media at The Co-operative Group (Keynote Address)

Having worked in Digital for 14 years Paul has called The Co-operative Group home for the last 3+ years. Paul’s role sees him heading up the internal Digital (CX & Media) and Social Media team (25 people) + partner agencies to develop strategy, plan activity, execute and optimise activity for The Co-operative Group & aid The Co-operative’s business units & functions.

Before The Co-op Paul has experience of working both client and agency side with brands including Wickes, Laterooms, Silverstone, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Cash Generator and Park Resorts.

Mike Hepburn, Content Marketing Director at Jaywing

At Jaywing, Mike’s role is to help organisations create their own content channels.  With over 20 years of experience, this is a natural extension of a successful and extensive career in media, publishing and PR.

Mike started out in TV as a researcher for Sir David Frost, before moving on to be producer of GMTV’s current affairs show, The Sunday Programme. Later, he worked in PR, providing media consultancy to major corporates, such as US air manufacturer Boeing.

At the political publisher Dods, where Mike spent nine years, he started as a journalist, moving into publishing – managing magazines, web sites and major events – until becoming CEO of the business. More recently Mike worked at The Guardian where he co-created the highly successful Guardian Professional Networks.  During this time he worked on major content management partnerships with a range of blue chip clients.

Ian Harris, CEO & Founder at Search Laboratory

Ian is the founder and CEO of global search engine marketing agency Search Laboratory. For the last nine years his unique scientific and mathematical approach to search engine optimisation and pay-per-click advertising has seen him grow Search Laboratory from a two-man operation to today employing over 150 in-house search specialists and linguists, managing a world-famous client list.

Ian’s career began in programming, which led to him being appointed as CTO for one of the world’s largest web localisation companies. Here he helped companies such as British Airways, IBM and HSBC tap into new overseas markets online. During his time as CTO Ian witnessed many large organisations trying to build search marketing campaigns in multiple languages – either by translating keywords or by using a student intern. Ian wanted to fill the gap in the market for a dedicated multilingual search engine marketing service and subsequently created Search Laboratory in 2005.

Stephen Kenwright, Director of Search at Branded3

Having previously worked in-house at FTSE 250 strategic outsourcing business Mitie, Stephen is from a background in advertising and has an MA in Shakespeare. He now works closely with Branded3’s PR, Content Marketing, Design/Development and Paid Search teams to deliver SEO performance for some of the world’s biggest brands.”

 

Andrew Machin, Creative Director at Branded3

Andrew is Branded3’s Creative Director, leading our web design team and developing unique and engaging ideas for our client’s campaigns. Andrew has an impressive background having led the web design teams of some of the biggest creative agencies in the UK and the US. Andrew’s web design and usability expertise has seen him talk at various industry conferences, and helped us secure some great projects for some of our biggest clients.

Lawrence Alexander, Digital Strategy Director at Home

Lawrence is a strategist specialising in digital and brand communications. He’s worked with over 150 high street brands including Microsoft, Mashable, BMW, Sony and Unilever. Since 1999, Lawrence has been using a mixture of behavioural psychology and digital brand strategy to help businesses and brands achieve their business objectives.

 

Joe Griffiths, Head of Digital Marketing at Blue Logic Digital

Joe heads up the digital marketing offering at Blue Logic Digital, overseeing the strategic marketing development of the agency’s clients and spearheading this area of the business. Having led award-winning content strategies for the likes of Virgin Holidays and Ladbrokes, Joe has a wealth of experience creating and implementing marketing strategies which deliver real business and brand growth.

 

David Crawford, Founder at The Digital Strategy Unit (Official Chair)

David is an experienced and passionate digital marketing strategist having worked in digital for the last 15 years, with 10 years plus before that in traditional marketing communications.

David has held senior, board level roles in specialist digital and integrated agencies such as McCann Erickson, Made By Pi, BJL, twentysix and Branded3. He has also run his own successful consulting business working with agencies and brands on improving their digital performance – again, both at a business/operation levels as well as part of the marketing communications mix.

He’s worked across a broad cross section of businesses across pretty much most major sectors, working with brands such as Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, American Airlines, UPS, Bentley Motors, Guardian News & Media, Johnson & Johnson, Travelex and Virgin Holidays.