DigitasLBi Launches NewFront Programme In UK

Global marketing and technology agency DigitasLBi is launching a collaborative thought-leadership programme aimed at stimulating creativity within the UK branded content marketplace.

The DigitasLBi UK NewFront will bring together leading artists, creative thinkers, media owners and innovators to pioneer brave and experimental new approaches to content creation.

Taking place on Monday 13th October at DigitasLBi’s Brick Lane offices, the inaugural UK NewFront will explore how marketers can make their brands part of culture, rather than leaving them stuck in the ad breaks in between. Participants include advertising maverick Cindy Gallop; journalist and presenter of the BBC’s Men Who Made Us Spend, Jacques Peretti; actor and comedian Adam Buxton; experimental British playwright Alecky Blythe; photographer, filmmaker and technologist Christian Payne AKA Documentally; and former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward; plus a line up of surprise guests and internet phenomena.

Founded in the US in 2008, the DigitasLBi NewFront initiative has gone from strength-to-strength, helping marketers harness the latest branded content opportunities. Last year the event, themed ‘Fearless’, was live-streamed to more than 225,000 industry influencers around the world.

Now in 2014, DigitasLBi is bringing the concept to the UK as part of the IAB Digital UpFronts, a week-long series of events aimed at encouraging longer term thinking and planning for digital.

Chris Clarke, Chief Creative Officer, DigitasLBi said: “Culture happens at the speed of light now, and content marketing is the brand buzzword of these fast-moving times. In the social era, we all know you can’t stand back from culture; as a brand, you need to be contributing to it, in ways that interest and engage your target audience. The inaugural DigitasLBi UK NewFront will bring together some of the country’s brightest minds to explore why the creative process in advertising has to change.”

Gareth Jones, Chief Brand & Content Officer, DigitasLBi said: “In the US, the DigitasLBi NewFront is one of the industry’s highest profile and most widely respected thought-leadership programmes. We are all incredibly excited to be extending the NewFront spirit of collaboration, creativity and disruption to the UK.”

The DigitasLBi UK NewFront is part of the marketing and technology agency’s promise to help companies of all shapes and sizes decide what’s next … and then take them there.

To find out more and request tickets, visit the IAB site.