4A’s Announces Inaugural Data Summit with WPP’s Sir Martin Sorrell as a Featured Speaker

New York, NY – July 29, 2013 – The 4A’s, the leading trade association representing the advertising agency business, announced today that it will hold its inaugural 4A’s Data Summit here on October 16, with special guest WPP Group CEO Sir Martin Sorrell, who is expected to deliver a “data call to arms” for the ad-marketing industry.

The day-long event, to be held at the French Institute in Manhattan, will feature sessions from thought leaders and data specialists from advertising agencies and data analytics companies that work with agencies.

The Data Summit is the first initiative led by the 4A’s Data Advisory Council, which was formed in June of this year. The council is comprised of industry thought leaders with expertise in data and analytics who, collectively are helping the 4A’s identify emerging trends and to formulate education initiatives and guidance to benefit its member agencies.

Nancy Hill, President and CEO of the 4A’s, said, “The proliferation of big data and how to harness it is another challenge that businesses in every sector must meet in our increasingly digital world. We’re grateful to the Council for getting started so quickly to put together an event that is sure to be valuable to the ad-marketing community.”

Donnovan Andrews, Chair of the 4A’s Data Advisory Council added, “Because one of our stated goals is to bring together business leaders who use big data in customer-facing businesses, we think this is an important and necessary event. This is by no means a static group, and we welcome the enthusiastic participation of all executives in what will be a robust series of initiatives.”

Andrews, who is Vice President, Media Sales and Operations at Bazaarvoice Media is also taking on the non-executive role of Chief Advisor, Digital Media & Innovation for the 4A’s. In this capacity, he will help the 4A’s sharpen its focus on emerging trends in the world of digital media and set the agenda in areas of developing technology and services with the objective of providing critical thought leadership, informational events and needed education to member agencies.

About the 4A’s
The 4A’s is the national trade association of the advertising agency business. Its membership comprises virtually all of the large, multinational agencies and hundreds of small and mid-sized agencies from across the country that employ some 65,000 people. More than 1,200 member agency offices representing some 750 agency brands who offer a wide range of marketing communications services and place 80 percent of all national advertising are served by the 4A’s. The management-oriented association, founded in 1917, helps its members build their businesses, and acts as the industry’s spokesperson with government, media and the public sector.