Full Schedule
Scroll down for the sessions
April 23-24, 2025 | Dubai, UAE
10:00 AM
Opening Remarks
10:15 AM
Keynote: Marketing Evolution
10:35 AM
Panel Discussion: Performance vs. Brand Building: How to Route Your Ad Budget
This discussion will focus on balancing short-term performance goals with long-term brand-building efforts. With limited budgets, marketers face challenges integrating these two crucial objectives. This session provides insights into overcoming those hurdles and driving sustainable marketing success.
Andreas Frangeskides
Head of Marketing Technology | Yum Brands - KFC (MENA, PAKT, CIS)
Rami Zahran
Chief Marketing Officer, Life Sciences
11:10 AM
Solving the Multi-touch Attribution Puzzle
With customer journeys spanning multiple touchpoints, marketers are struggling to measure true campaign impact. Learn how to bridge the gap between offline and online data and explore the most effective multi-touch attribution models, including AI-driven solutions like content analytics.
Tarv Nijjar
Senior Director, Business Insights and Analytics | McDonald's
11:25 AM
Panel Discussion: Martech-Adtech Synergy In Action: Bridge The Gap In Privacy, Data & Integration
As Martech and Adtech converge, this panel will explore strategies for navigating privacy regulations, the phase-out of third-party cookies, and cross-platform data integration. Learn how to unite Martech and Adtech to thrive in a privacy-conscious world.
Suliman Gaouda
Regional Vice President | Sitecore
12:00 PM
COFFEE BREAK
12:20 PM
Case In Point: How This Brand Supercharged Their Programmatic Strategies For Maximum ROI
This session will explore how brands can leverage real-time bidding (RTB) for enhanced efficiency and ROI. We’ll examine innovative RTB techniques and how AI and machine learning are reshaping the bidding landscape. Learn how Brand X transformed its approach to dynamic ad spend optimisation.
Jay Dalvi
Business Director, Middle East | Jio Haptik
12:35 PM
Sticky Installs: Crafting Habit-Forming Apps That Integrate with Users’ Lives
Learn how to transform a fleeting app download into a daily habit. This session explores strategies for creating addicting experiences, nurturing long-term app retention, and driving consistent revenue.
Omais Waiz
Performance Marketing Director, MultiBank Group
12:50 PM
Loyalty Max: The Future of App Growth
Is the subscription model dead? What’s next, and how can marketers maximize CLV for loyal customers? This session will cover the dos and don’ts of paid subscriptions, acquisition strategies, and effective monetisation, using analytics for better retention practices.
Premanand Velumani
Solution Consulting Manager | Zoho
1:05 PM
Can AI-generated Creatives Capture Emotions?
Explore whether AI can craft visuals and designs that move the soul. This session dives into the art of programming AI to connect deeply with human emotions, going beyond mere aesthetics to create meaningful and emotional experiences.
Andreas Frangeskides
Head of Marketing Technology | Yum Brands - KFC MENA, PAKT CIS
1:20 PM
Lunch Break
Paras Rishi
Assistant Vice President | Join Ventures
Rana Diaa
Customer Success Manager | Appsflyer
Vibhav Gaur
Vice President - Media & Digital Analytics | RAKBANK
1:20 PM
LUNCH BREAK
2:15 PM
AI for Ad Intelligence: Putting Personalised Messaging on Autopilot
Discover how AI can optimise creativity and data-driven insights to personalise ad campaigns and boost efficiency while maintaining a human touch in ad strategies.
Tarv Nijjar
Senior Director, Business Insights and Analytics | McDonald's
2:30 PM
Create, Convert, Capture: Turning Compelling Visuals Into Action
In today’s crowded digital landscape, discover how immersive and video content can captivate audiences and lead to meaningful action. This session will cover the power of video and visual storytelling to engage and convert consumers.
Roberta Cianetti
Expert Social Media Strategist
2:45 PM
The Comeback Code: Identifying, Understanding & Re-engaging Your Idle Users
Don’t neglect your dormant users. This session examines how to re-engage idle users through personalised strategies and reduce churn by analysing drop-off points and implementing targeted promotions.
Jobin Joy
Global MarTech and Content Lead - Digital Marketing Capabilities | Vodafone
3:00 PM
Keynote: Making AI the Heartbeat of Retail Engagement
AI is no longer a behind-the-scenes tool; it’s the engine driving retail’s transformation into a deeply connected, customer-centric ecosystem. With 75% of consumers expecting retailers to understand their needs and preferences, this keynote dives into how AI is shaping retail strategies to resonate emotionally while delivering tangible results. Explore how AI harnesses vast data streams to decode intent, craft real-time emotional engagement, and seamlessly merge online and offline experiences. Learn how retail leaders are making AI work—not just to sell, but to connect, delight, and build loyalty in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.
Hitesh Malhotra
Marketing Head, 6th Street.com
3:15 PM
Transforming Two-Way Conversations: Leveraging Channels for Maximum Engagement
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is revolutionising how brands communicate with customers, offering more interactive, visual, and personalised conversations than traditional SMS. This session will explore how leading brands are using channels like RCS, SMS, WhatsApp, and chatbots to enhance customer engagement, streamline communication, and deliver more tailored experiences across touchpoints. Learn the key differences between these channels and how to leverage them to create deeper connections with your audience and deliver more interactive, visual, and personalised customer conversations.
Harsha Thawani
Associate Director - Marketing, Digital Marketing Lead | KPMG - Lower Gulf
Katib Belkhodja
Customer Centricity Director | Al-Futtaim Automotive
Kareem Ayyad
Founder | Uktob.Ai
3:30 PM
Measure What Matters: Customer Satisfaction Beyond NPS
This debate covers the new practical metrics that marketers should adopt to measure customer satisfaction and sentiment. We’ll discuss how to eliminate bias from feedback and how AI can assist in delivering unbiased insights.
Matthew Horobin
Associate Director Customer Experience | Modon Holdings
4:00 PM
End of Day 1
10:00 AM
Welcome Note: Trust & Transparency
10:15 AM
Managing & Securing Consent - How To Get Customers To Share More Proactively
Building trust and transparency in data-sharing practices, focusing on using Martech solutions to encourage proactive customer consent and ensuring responsible data usage.
Marisha Lakhiani
Chief Growth Officer | Mindvalley
10:30 AM
The Balancing Act: Behavioural (AI) Targeting vs. Privacy
Exploring how brands can balance AI-driven behavioral targeting with privacy concerns, especially in the post-cookie era, and how they can maintain transparency.
10:45 AM
Retail Media: RMNs- Shifting Ad Power Beyond Digital and TV to Target High-Intent Audiences
Retail Media Networks (RMNs) have become pivotal in the advertising ecosystem, with 2024 projections showing RMN ad spending surpassing traditional TV advertising. Beyond the numbers, RMNs offer unparalleled access to high-intent audiences actively in a purchasing mindset, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
- How are RMNs outpacing traditional advertising channels in terms of spend, effectiveness, and direct conversions?
- How are retailers like Walmart and Home Depot leveraging RMNs to engage purchase-ready customers and drive high-margin revenue?
- Explore the monetisation of first-party data to not only optimise merchandise strategies but also deliver ads that convert at critical decision-making moments.
Sohail Nawaz MBE
Head of Retail Media, Landmark Group
11:00 AM
Browsing to Buying: A Case Study in Intent-Driven Personalisation
As Retail Media Networks (RMNs) continue to evolve, the ability to harness intent-driven personalisation is becoming a powerful differentiator. Retailers like Target are leading the charge, using in-store apps to capture consumer behaviour and deliver highly-targeted offers precisely when customers are most likely to make a purchase. This session will dive into a compelling case study of how a top retailer transformed its in-store experience through real-time, intent-driven personalisation—turning browsing into buying by engaging high-intent shoppers at the optimal moment.
- How did the retailer use in-store apps to track consumer behaviour and deliver hyper-personalised offers at key moments when customers were most likely to purchase?
- What role did first-party data play in enabling real-time, targeted offers based on customer activity within the store?
- How did the integration of digital insights and in-store experiences optimise the customer journey, ensuring a seamless and personalised interaction from browsing to buying?
Milica Smudja
Director of Marketing and Communications | Al Barakah Holding
Rohan Kapoor
Group Vice President, Digital Marketing & Loyalty | Cenomi Group
Vibha Thusu
Global Head of Marketing Communications (Multi Brands) | HIMEL
11:15 AM
Live Commerce + Retail Media: The Future of Real-Time Customer Connection?
Live commerce is rewriting the rules of customer engagement by combining real-time interaction with data precision. Retailers are using first-party data to craft shopping experiences that are both dynamic and community-driven. But how can live-stream shopping events go beyond entertainment to drive measurable conversions? Discover:
- How can brands identify peak engagement times and scale live storytelling for maximum impact?
- The role of retail media networks in refining personalization strategies to enhance audience reach.
- Practical examples of how live commerce is transforming the shopping journey and building authentic customer relationships.
11:30 AM
COFFEE BREAK
11:50 AM
Panel Discussion: Brand Safety in the Privacy-First Age: Harnessing Closed-Loop Attribution
With privacy laws reshaping the landscape, retail media networks face a crucial test: Can personalisation succeed without invading consumer privacy? Contextual strategies are emerging as the answer, but what does this shift mean for advertisers? Explore:
- What innovative approaches are replacing hyper-specific targeting to align with consumer trust and regulations?
- The role of data clean rooms in balancing privacy compliance with actionable insights.
- How contextual advertising is reshaping personalised campaigns without relying on deeply personal data.
12:25 PM
Social Commerce and Retail Media: Where Engagement Meets Conversion
Social platforms like TikTok and Instagram are evolving into powerful sales engines, blending entertainment with commerce. But how can brands harness these platforms to build meaningful customer connections? Learn:
- How are retail media networks integrating with shoppable posts and influencer campaigns to drive conversions?
- What strategies are blending community engagement with precision targeting for impactful outcomes?
- The transformative role of live-stream shopping events in connecting social experiences with purchase intent.
12:40 PM
Search & Intent: Unlocking Personalised Discovery through AI-powered Search
AI-powered search uses advanced algorithms to understand intent, context, and preferences, reshaping how users discover products, content, and services. This session will discuss the evolution of AI-driven search engines, and how they analyze vast amounts of unstructured data to deliver highly relevant results. We’ll explore AI’s role in predicting search queries even before users finish typing, as well as its impact on product discovery in industries such as eCommerce, travel, and retail.
Kara Moddemann
Vice President, Growth & New Ventures | The Luxury Closet
12:55 PM
Lunch Break
1:50 PM
Panel Discussion: The Art and Science of Hyper-personalisation
Customers expect personalised interactions. This panel focuses on the critical importance of capturing customer intent at the right moment and place. We’ll discuss the missteps organizations often make in understanding intent and the transformative potential of getting it right. By leveraging the newest technologies and data-driven strategies, brands can seamlessly integrate customer experiences across channels, turning fleeting interest into lasting loyalty.
Hema Subramanian
Omnichannel Marketing Lead | Alshaya Group
Neda Lazic
Marketing Network Operations & Capabilities Senior Director, Eurasia & Middle East OU | The Coca-Cola Company
Roberta Cianetti
Expert Social Media Strategist
2:25 PM
How is Conversational AI transforming the Future of Search and Interaction?
Conversational AI is revolutionising search, creating more natural, intuitive, and personalized interactions between businesses and customers. From chatbots to voice search, conversational AI uses natural language processing (NLP) to understand human queries and deliver the most relevant information instantly.
Kara Moddemann
Vice President, Growth & New Ventures | The Luxury Closet
