AI Transformation in 2025: CES Dinner with DEPT® x Microsoft
The future belongs to the impatient. AI is unlocking opportunities across business, technology, culture, and more. But it moves fast—and, now, the future moves faster. Join DEPT® and Microsoft at CES for this exclusive dinner to learn how you can capitalize on a pivotal year ahead in the evolution of AI.
See program detailsWhat to expect at the event
AI transformation will be the single biggest trend of 2025, and for good reason. AI is rewriting the playbook. From business to culture, it has the potential to change how brands connect, how we work, and how we experience the world.
You need to be ready to move fast and capitalize on a pivotal year in the evolution of AI. And we can help.
Join us for a private dinner at CES where we will bring our best experts to help you lead the charge in an ever-evolving world. Featuring Penny Pritzker, Founder and Chairman of PSP Partners and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration, who brings more than 30 years of experience leading organizations across transformational change.
Whether you’re a brand, marketer, technologist, or creative, this event will help you rethink and refocus on what lies ahead in 2025.
OUR PROGRAM
Our Speakers
DEPT® Trends 2025: Sydney Edition
If you thought 2024 was big—with global elections, the Paris Olympics, and AI stealing the spotlight—just wait for 2025. Join us IRL in Sydney to hear how leading marketers are preparing for yet another year of evolution and transformation.
What to expect
Following our virtual Trends 2025 event on 12 November, we’re inviting friends of DEPT® to an invite-only IRL event in Sydney, where you can exclusively hear from some of the brightest minds in marketing and technology about what to expect in 2025, and how to prepare.
Spoiler alert: AI is rewriting the playbook. From business to culture, it has the potential to change how brands connect, how we work, and how we experience the world.
But while the AI conversation has (so far) been dominated by making cost savings or churning out content faster, we’ll explore its potential in greater depth – to reimagine how businesses operate, make decisions, and interact with customers.
As well as diving deeper into the themes uncovered in our upcoming Trends 2025 report, you will have the exclusive opportunity to hear from leading brands about their own experiences and expectations of AI.
You’ll leave with the knowledge you need to act fast, capitalise on a pivotal year in the evolution of AI, and lead the charge in an ever-evolving world; as well as some new contacts from industry leading companies.
This event will help you rethink and refocus on what lies ahead in 2025.
More about our event program speakers will follow soon… stay tuned!
JOIN US AT CES 2025
DEPT® is hitting CES 2025 and we’d love for you to join us. Because there’s no better way to kick off the new year than in Vegas surrounded by pioneers, innovators, and tech enthusiasts.
Whether you’re interested in insightful talks by industry experts, a private tour of the show floor, or a chill place to hang out and unwind, we’ve got you covered.
Register now—there’s something for everyone.
What to expect at the Event
Join us for an exciting program throughout the week.
CES stands as the most powerful tech event globally — the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators.
We’re going big this year, with a full program that kicks off at Digital Hollywood and goes through the end of the week (full details are below).
We are excited to partner with CES on a half-day session dedicated to the positive and practical impact of AI at scale. We’ll have CMOs and tech leaders from Lenovo, Athleta, Zip, Nanit, Canva, Microsoft, Mailchimp, Adidas, Oatly, OpenAI and more talking about the potential of AI transformation, the future of creativity, and how AI is driving the future of media.
DEPT® is also sponsoring the AI House, where the most influential brands, platforms, government agencies and policy organizations will come together. Anyone with a CES pass can join, so make sure to stop by!
Finally, the DEPT® Penthouse will be your ultimate hangout and place to call home amidst the CES madness, with great food, killer views, exclusive DEPT Apparel, and informal chats about all things AI transformation. And you can take the conversation back to the show floor on a private tour of the show floor hosed by one of our experts. This is a must-see/must-learn VIP experience to help you make the most of your time at the event.
Featured Speakers
DEPT® PROGRAM
Meet the Team
ProcureCon Marketing
Explore the best ways to transform your marketing and customer experience to thrive today and tomorrow.
ProcureCon Marketing
We’re thrilled to sponsor ProcureCon Marketing 2024 where we’ll be sharing how our unique blend of creative, media, AI, data, retail media, marketplaces, social, and emerging tech has helped brands like Google, United Airlines, DoorDash, and eBay stay ahead.
From adopting the latest martech innovations to increasing efficiencies and reducing costs, we can share practical insights to ensure your business is future-ready.
To find out more, reach out to book a meeting with our expert team now or simply find us at booth #107.
Meet us at ProcureCon Marketing
Featured insights
Amazon unBoxed on Tour Düsseldorf
Get the insight you need to thrive today and tomorrow. Catch us at Amazon unBoxed on Tour for an action packed talk—cohosted by the smart-est brand in automotive 😉—on the best ways to transform your marketing and customer experience.
Amazon unBoxed on Tour Düsseldorf
What to expect
We’re super excited to be a Silver Sponsor of Amazon unBoxed on Tour—and we’re even more excited for our DEPT® x smart fireside chat on stage!
WHEN AND WHERE
🗓️ Wednesday, November 13th
📍 The Frame, Düsseldorf
🎪 DEPT® Booth at Connections Hub
Keynote:
Driving the future of digital advertising: smart’s bold campaign unveiled in a fireside chat with Amazon Ads & DEPT®
Wednesday, November 13th, 2024
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Will you be there? Be sure to stop by our booth in the Connections Hub to talk all things Amazon.
In addition to soaking up all the latest insights and inspiration from Amazon themselves, we’re looking forward to sharing how we’re helping brands including JBL, Levi’s, ghd, Diageo, DeLonghi and tons more get the most out of their Amazon advertising strategies.
Want to learn more? Fill out the form below to arrange a meeting at the event with us.
Meet our speakers
Marieke de Jong
Strategist, DEPT®
As a digital marketing strategist with over 7 years of experience in the EMEA region, I have successfully navigated the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing. Starting my journey as an intern, I have grown into a strategic thinker, specializing in data-driven approaches that elevate brand visibility yet also drive measurable results. I am passionate about leveraging emerging trends and technologies to help brands thrive in competitive markets. Throughout my career, I have collaborated with diverse teams to develop innovative campaigns that push boundaries and deliver exceptional ROI. I look forward to sharing insights and best practices that can empower brands to unlock their full potential in today’s digital age.
Martin Studemund
Head of Digital Marketing, smart Europe
With over 20 years in network advertising agencies, I have developed digital campaigns and platforms for major OEMs like Volkswagen, BMW and Porsche as well as Telefonica o2 Germany. Since April 2023, I`m leading the smart EU Digital Marketing, which covers everything from media, website, social media and marketing automation with a very close collaboration with our European markets.
Elina Popova
Digital Marketing Manager, smart Germany
With over 5 years of experience in marketing, I currently work as a Digital Marketing Manager at smart Germany, where I manage campaigns, budgets, and strategic planning with a data-driven and performance-oriented approach. I began my career at an advertising agency, developing a strong foundation in marketing, and later became a Marketing Manager at a tech start-up. I built and executed a comprehensive marketing mix in that role, driving growth and increasing brand visibility across multiple channels.
Connect with us at unBoxed on Tour Düsseldorf
Let’s Chat Connect with us at unBoxed on Tour Düsseldorf
DEPT® & Friends NYC: AI Transformation in 2025
Join us on December 5th for an exclusive DEPT® & Friends dinner at MM Kitchen Studio. Learn how AI is rewriting the playbook from business to culture, and connect and learn from the brightest minds in marketing and technology, all while enjoying a mind-blowing meal.
DEPT® & Friends Dinner: AI Transformation in 2025
What to expect
Despite the huge potential AI offers, executives in boardrooms across the globe still talk about AI as just a tool for saving money or churning out content faster. That mindset only addresses 10% of AI’s potential. The other 90% lies in AI’s ability to reimagine how businesses operate, make decisions and interact with customers.
Join DEPT® for this exclusive dinner to explore how your organization can move faster and capitalize on a pivotal year ahead in the evolution of AI.
The event will feature a special guest speaker Jenny Nicholson, Founder at Queen of Swords. Jenny spent her childhood in the woods of Tennessee with no running water and no electricity. What her upbringing lacked in television or convenient showers, it made up in opportunities to develop her imagination.
With no formal education in advertising, she’s worked her way from proofreader to Executive Creative Director. From award-winning games to custom GPTs to social-first campaigns, her work always leads with a big idea, though you can never quite predict how she’ll bring it to life. She’s gotten props from Cannes, D&AD, The One Show, the Clios, FWA, and the Webby Awards. She’ll talk about what AI can teach us about being human, why you should look at it with curiosity more than fear, and how to make every customer touchpoint a brand-building opportunity.
And we’ll have Marc Murphy, celebrity chef and TV personality frequently seen on the Food Network’s Chopped, on hand doing live demonstrations from the open kitchen.
You’ll leave with the knowledge you need to act fast, capitalize on a pivotal year in the evolution of AI, and lead the charge in an ever-evolving world.
Join us!
Meet our speakers & hosts
Trends 2025: The future belongs to the impatient
Explore what the future has in store and learn what opportunities AI is unlocking across business, technology, culture, and more. Because AI moves fast—and, now, the future moves faster. Learn more at this can’t-miss virtual event.
Trends 2025: The future belongs to the impatient
What to expect
If you thought 2024 was big—with global elections, the Paris Olympics, and AI stealing the spotlight—just wait for 2025. AI transformation will be the single biggest trend of 2025, and for good reason. AI is rewriting the playbook. From business to culture, it has the potential to change how brands connect, how we work, and how we experience the world.
Despite the huge potential AI offers, in boardrooms across the globe, executives are still talking about AI as just a tool for saving money or churning out content faster. That mindset only addresses 10% of the potential of AI. The other 90% lies in AI’s ability to reimagine how businesses operate, make decisions, and interact with customers.
You need to be ready to move fast and capitalize on a pivotal year in the evolution of AI. And we can help.
Join our annual Trends event where we bring our best experts along with insights from clients, partners and thought leaders to help you not just keep up, but lead the charge in an ever-evolving world.
- Discover how AI is reshaping creativity, brand strategies and media planning, creating more personalized and impactful campaigns.
- Learn how AI is supercharging commerce by enhancing customer journeys, driving sales, and delivering immersive experiences.
- Dive into the tech and data trends that are making AI transformation scalable and realistic.
- Explore how AI is driving cultural shifts and creating new possibilities in the workplace.
We’ll also discuss the strategic steps businesses need to take to become AI-ready, both culturally and in terms of technology. Plus, get insights into the role AI will play in 2030, and how companies can position themselves to stay ahead of the curve.
Whether you’re a brand, marketer, technologist, or creative, this event will help you rethink and refocus on what lies ahead in 2025.
Meet the speakers
Ali Mcclintock
SVP Growth & Head of UKI
A thought leader in topics including AI, creative tech, social, influencer, brand and media, Ali has spent over seven years pioneering digital innovation for clients including Just Eat, Meta, ASOS and Prime Video. Ali leads DEPT®’s UK and Ireland teams, supporting our portfolio of clients with strategic guidance to keep them one step ahead.
Bob Briski
Global SVP of AI
Bob brings 20+ years of experience in data strategy and engineering. Known for building dynamic teams and crafting strategies that drive success, he’s worked with everyone from Fortune 50 giants to innovative startups, including Meta, Google, eBay, Disney, and Moody’s. Bob has a knack for weaving AI and data into the core fabric of any company’s architecture. These days, Bob offers strategic advice and executive leadership on data engineering, analytics, and AI projects.
Jeff Bowerman
Executive Creative Director & VP, Creative UKI
Jeff is VP of Creative at DEPT® where he leads pioneering work for brands including eBay, Mammut, Just Eat, and The Gym Group. A Cannes Lions and D&AD award-wining creative director, he started his career in digital, and has worked the past 24 years in both through the line agencies and client side creative roles.
Negina Kargar
Sr. AI & Data Science Consultant
Negina is a passionate Senior Data Science & AI Consultant at DEPT® known for driving innovation. Her expertise lies in translating AI and tech into tangible business value for clients, guiding them through stakeholder management, organizational AI adoption, and crafting comprehensive roadmaps.
Henry Daubrez
Global VP of Design & Creative Innovation
Designer by trade, artist by ambition, storyteller by passion. With more than two decades in the industry, Henry is a pioneer of immersive experiences and cutting-edge AI innovation, working with clients including Virgin Galactic, The New York Times, Yuga Labs, BMW, Coca-Cola and many more. Henry is involved in building the 1% of experiences, products and platforms that people will remember among the noise. Thriving for the extraordinary and making people’s lives a little less boring, one story at a time.
Job Deibel
Data & AI Director
Job brings over nine years of experience in data science and machine learning. At DEPT®, he leads our data science proposition and team, focusing on translating complex business challenges into cutting-edge data and AI solutions across various industries and departments.
Bridget Fahrland
AI Consultant
Bridget has led successful projects for major brands like Citi, Clorox, Disney, and Google, enhancing customer loyalty and driving results. She helps global brands leverage AI for growth, emphasizing hyper-personalization and rethinking sales strategies. A recognized leader in digital transformation, Bridget has spoken at events like SXSW and has been featured in publications including Vogue Business and WSJ Interactive.
Jon Judah
SVP, Clients & Technology
For 20+ years, Jon has worked at the intersection of technology, business and design to help leaders at some of the world’s biggest brands define how their products and experiences can drive growth in a digital economy. At DEPT®, Jon leads the Americas technology market and is responsible for driving growth and outcomes for clients spanning commercial and nonprofit sectors. Past clients include The Home Depot, Mattel, Lyft, Epic Games, and Sotheby’s International Realty. He’s also worked with mission-based clients including Medicare and the US State Department.
Yash Mody
SVP, Experience & Engineering
Yash is the CTO for DEPT® in APAC and has over 20 years of experience conducting research, building products, and running companies. He has trained over 5,000 people in technologies including Adobe, big data, and blockchain, and has several patents to his name.
Sam Huston
SVP, Creative & Media
Sam has deep experience across media, creative, and entertainment, working with clients across a number of verticals including technology, retail, hospitality, and CPG. Sam has the unique ability to predict consumer and digital trends, and he believes the key to the future is in the strategic amplification of holistic digital performance marketing.
Nelleke van Grinsven
Media Director
Nelleke leads our media department in the Netherlands in terms of strategy, proposition and vision, ensuring our media teams are building the best integrated strategies and plans for our clients. Whether it’s connecting with Google, Meta and Amazon, or brainstorming on how to best engage with Gen Z or B2B audiences, she is here to drive business growth via best-in-class media strategies that include bringing together data, tech and creativity.
Marten Kuipers
Sr. Visual Designer & Art Director
Marten breathes design, and shares this love in the community as a speaker at events and judge at the biggest award shows in the industry. At DEPT®, he strives to create the best experiences on the internet for brands including the Van Gogh Museum, Flos Italia, Jonsson Workwear, and ARTIS Zoo. From strategy and content to design and tech, Marten creates stories that reflects the brand in a visually pleasing, user friendly and smart way, all while experimenting with AI.
The Program
Time
9:00 am CET
3:00 pm SGT
Speakers
Ali Mcclintock, SVP Growth & Head of UKI
Keynote
Welcome: The future is now
Ali kicks things off with a deep dive into the fast-evolving world of marketing, tech, and commerce. The future’s already here—are you ready to take it by the reins?
Time
9:05 am CET
3:05 pm SGT
Speakers
Job Deibel, Data & AI Director
Negina Kargar, Sr. AI & Data Science Consultant
Keynote
AI Unleashed: Moving Past Hype To Impact
AI isn’t just another tech trend—it’s rewriting the playbook. Join industry leaders as they reveal how brands are harnessing AI to solve problems, fuel growth, and unlock value. Sick of playing catch-up? This session will show you how and where to get the most value with AI today.
Time
9:15 am CET
3:15 pm SGT
Speakers
Marten Kuipers, Sr. Visual Designer & Art Director
Keynote
Creative alchemy: Igniting big ideas with AI
When creativity and AI collide, the results are explosive. Marten and Henry break down how AI is shattering creative limits and sparking ideas you didn’t think were possible. Hunting for that next big breakthrough? This session will light the fuse.
Time
9:25 am CET
3:25 pm SGT
Speakers
Jeff Bowerman, Executive Creative Director & VP, Creative UKI
Keynote
Culture Catalysts: Building brands that shape trends
Tired of chasing trends? We’re tired of seeing it. Jeff and Claire will share how you can carve out your own unique place on socials, and add value to your audience without chasing (and often killing) trends. Because brands don’t create culture, people do.
Time
9:35 am CET
3:35 pm SGT
Speakers
Nelleke van Grinsven, Media Director
Keynote
Media revolution and the new era of commerce
The future of retail? It’s already here, powered by AI. Nelleke and Sam will show you how the savviest brands are treating every customer like a VIP through personalized media and tech that knows what you want before you do. Ready to flip the retail game on its head? They’ve got the playbook.
Time
9:45 am CET
3:45 pm SGT
Speakers
Yash Mody, SVP, Experience & Engineering
Keynote
The speed of trust: Building agile, ethical organizations
Moving fast doesn’t mean cutting corners. Jon and Yash will show you how to build agile teams that move at the pace of innovation without losing sight of ethics, data integrity, or trust. Get your organization future-ready, without sacrificing what matters.
Time
9:55 am CET
3:55 pm SGT
Speakers
Keynote
Closing Words
Time
3:00 pm ET
Speakers
Ali Mcclintock, SVP Growth & Head of UKI
Keynote
Welcome: The Future is Now
Ali kicks things off with a deep dive into the fast-evolving world of marketing, tech, and commerce. The future’s already here—are you ready to take it by the reins?
Time
3:05 pm ET
Speakers
Bridget Fahrland, AI Consultant
Bob Briski, Global SVP of AI
Keynote
AI Unleashed: Moving Past Hype To Impact
AI isn’t just another tech trend—it’s rewriting the playbook. Join industry leaders as they reveal how brands are harnessing AI to solve problems, fuel growth, and unlock value. Sick of playing catch-up? This session will show you how and where to get the most value with AI today.
Time
3:15 pm ET
Speakers
Henry Daubrez, Head of Design at DOGSTUDIO/DEPT® / Global VP of Design and Creative Innovation at DEPT®
Keynote
Creative Alchemy: Igniting Big Ideas with AI
When creativity and AI collide, the results are explosive. Marten and Henry break down how AI is shattering creative limits and sparking ideas you didn’t think were possible. Hunting for that next big breakthrough? This session will light the fuse.
Time
3:25 pm ET
Speakers
Claire Shalbrack, VP, Growth, Creative & Media
Keynote
Culture Catalysts: Building Brands that Shape Trends
Tired of chasing trends? We’re tired of seeing it. Jeff and Claire will share how you can carve out your own unique place on socials, and add value to your audience without chasing (and often killing) trends. Because brands don’t create culture, people do.
Time
3:35 pm ET
Speakers
Sam Huston, SVP, Creative & Media
Keynote
Media Revolution and the New Era of Commerce
The future of retail? It’s already here, powered by AI. Nelleke and Sam will show you how the savviest brands are treating every customer like a VIP through personalized media and tech that knows what you want before you do. Ready to flip the retail game on its head? They’ve got the playbook.
Time
3:45 pm ET
Speakers
Jon Judah, SVP, Clients & Technology
Keynote
The Speed of Trust: Building Agile, Ethical Organizations
Moving fast doesn’t mean cutting corners. Jon and Yash will show you how to build agile teams that move at the pace of innovation without losing sight of ethics, data integrity, or trust. Get your organization future-ready, without sacrificing what matters.
Time
3:55 pm ET
Speakers
Keynote
Closing Words
Exclusive Virtual Roundtable: Frictionless Commerce Internationalisation
Join us for our exclusive virtual roundtable of industry experts and your peers – hosted by DEPT® x SCAYLE x Global-e. Exchange insights and perspectives on frictionless internationalization in commerce.
Exclusive Virtual Roundtable: Frictionless Commerce Internationalisation
Key topics we will discuss:
- Competition: How to deal with the likes of Shein and Temu?
- Efficiency & TCO: How can you increase operational efficiency while reducing total cost of ownership?
- Frictionless Localization: How can you manage localization effectively for different regions and markets?
- Data & Compliance: How can you ensure you are compliant with regional regulations?
Meet our speakers
Tarek Müller
CEO at About You
Tarek Müller is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of the ABOUT YOU Group. The ABOUT YOU Group is an internationally active e-commerce group with two strategic business units: ABOUT YOU, one of the largest and fastest growing online fashion stores in the world, and SCAYLE, a software as a service company offering a unified commerce software for enterprise companies. Müller has been developing digital business models for more than twenty years.
Jonathan Whiteside
Global SVP at DEPT®
Jonathan Whiteside is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience building high-performing tech teams, helping clients worldwide to define and implement future-ready technology platform strategies. Jonathan is a partner and Global SVP at DEPT®, where he leads a 1,500-strong engineering team across EMEA, the US, and APAC. As a member of the global management team, he oversees strategy and execution in areas including Content, Commerce, Cloud Platforms, Custom Apps & Products, Creative Technology, and Crypto/Web3.
Beyond the short term win: mastering brandformance
Tired of chasing fleeting marketing victories? Build a brandformance strategy that delivers long-term, sustainable growth. Join Google and DEPT® for an exclusive event where we’ll explore how to balance brand and performance to achieve maximum ROI.
Beyond the short term win: mastering brandformance
Get ready to:
- Break free from the funnel: Move beyond short-term tactics and build a holistic marketing approach that drives long-term success.
- Uncover actionable insights: Gain practical insights to optimize your marketing across the customer journey.
- Learn from industry leaders: Hear from experts at Google and DEPT® who have helped countless brands achieve brandformance success.
- Craft seamless omnichannel experiences: Create impactful brand experiences across all customer touchpoints, ensuring a seamless journey.
- Gain a competitive edge: Understand the latest trends and innovations in brandformance.
By attending this virtual event, you’ll walk away with a clear roadmap to unlock the power of brandformance and achieve sustainable growth for your brand on the global stage.
Our expert speakers
DoWoo Lee
VP, Integrated Media Strategy & Planning at DEPT®
Aprajita Jain
Chief Brand Marketing Evangelist at Google
Nelleke van Grinsven
Media Director at DEPT®
Don’t miss out!
Featured insights
DEPT® x Amazon Ads Wiesn 2024
Join us at the Oktoberfest in Munich for our DEPT® x Amazon Ads Wiesn event and get first-hand expert insights at the exclusive Performance+ workshop at the Amazon Headquarter.
DEPT® x Amazon Ads Wiesn 2024
We will kick off the day together with a workshop at the Amazon HQ in Munich. Learn what a successful Amazon Performance+ campaign is and what the benefits and opportunities of Performance+ are. Our experts will also provide valuable insights in case studies.
Afterwards, we’ll head together to Oktoberfest and it’s time to get connected! We bring the best-known brands and industry pioneers to a Wiesn table to discuss trends, challenges and strategies. Over beer and typical Bavarian dishes, you will have the opportunity to network with other industry experts and Amazon executives in a cosy atmosphere and take home new insights and inspiration for your brand.
WHEN & WHERE
🗓️ September 25th, 2024
🗣️ 9:00 am – 01:00 pm Amazon Performance+ Workshop, Amazon HQ in Munich
🍻 01:00 pm – 04:15 pm Wiesn Gaudi, Armbrustschützenzelt
Please note: The number of places for this event is limited. We carefully check all registrations. Participation is only possible if you receive a confirmation email from us.