Presentation: Harmonizing disruption: Reconciling the driving forces of RMNs and the future, featuring Andy Murray, Executive Chairman, Saatchi & Saatchi XAs a pioneering force in shopper and retail marketing, Andy Murray will cover key drivers of change that must be harmonized in order for RMNs to deliver on the promise of a more relevant consumer experience.
With the rapid expansion of online RMNs starting in 2019, brands and retailers began experiencing an unprecedented level of change. Change in ways of working, where money is spent, roles of commercial and marketing, and areas of mastery required to make it all work. To win today with RMNs you need to have a hands-on-keyboard understanding to master the complexity. But for leaders setting strategy, more is required than a bottom-up working knowledge. To chart a course from complexity to clarity, leaders need a view of where it is all headed online and in the store. Only then can the change-makers place bets on everything from organizational design to test and learn investments. In this session, Andy will cover the core driving forces that are shaping the RMN trajectory and the key questions leaders need to be asking to unlock clarity.
Presentation and panel: Transitioning from a merchant to a media mindset, featuring Quentin George, Partner, McKinsey & Company and Omer Gajial, EVP Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer for Albertsons CompaniesPresentation and Panel: Transitioning from a Merchant to a Media Mindset
Hosted by Quentin George, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Quentin George is a thought leader in digital transformation and media strategy, known for guiding companies through complex changes to drive growth. At McKinsey, he helps major brands and retailers navigate the evolving landscape of commerce, digital, and in-store media, making him the perfect host for this discussion on retail media's next frontier.
Featuring Omer Gajial, EVP Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer, Albertsons Companies
Omer Gajial leads all digital, in-store, and commerce media initiatives at Albertsons, driving innovation and growth across one of America's largest supermarket chains. With a deep understanding of both digital merchandising and traditional retail, he is uniquely positioned to share valuable insights on balancing in-store experiences with digital transformation.
This panel will bring together Gajial and other senior merchants for a candid conversation on the challenges and opportunities of building a retail media business. They will explore key topics such as:
- Integrating digital and physical retail strategies to maximize reach and engagement.
- Navigating the complexities of in-store media, from partnerships to execution.
- Harnessing data and technology to create personalized customer experiences.
Expect an in-depth discussion from leaders shaping the future of retail media that covers not only the obstacles but also the potential for in-store media to drive significant business growth.
Retailer keynote presentation: Retail media as an organizational principle - The Costco Advantage, featuring Mark Williamson, AVP Retail Media, CostcoMark Williamson, AVP of Retail Media at Costco, will share how Costco is poised to transform the retail media landscape. The presentation will address the company's unique advantages, including its trusted membership model, differentiated organizational philosophy, strong supplier partnerships, and valuable first-party data, which provide a powerful platform for targeted advertising and meaningful customer engagement across physical and digital channels. Viewers will gain insights into Costco's evolving retail media strategy and its potential to drive growth and redefine in-warehouse marketing.
Retail change maker interview: Mark Williamson, AVP Retail Media, Costco interviewed by Sarah Marzano, Principal Analyst - Retail Media at EMARKETERFollowing the presentation, there will be a discussion between Sarah Marzano, Principal Analyst at EMARKETER, and Mr. Williamson. Topics include Costco's marketing approach, vendor and merchant alignment around RMN value and goals, strategic RMN initiatives across all channels, in-warehouse media strategy, and the fundamental Costco Advantage - which positions Costco as a powerful force in the Retail Media Network Ecosystem.
The evolution of IABs in-store media metrics: 2024 highlights and 2025 outlook, presented by Yara Daher, Retail Media Consultant, IAB EuropeIn-store media has emerged as a critical component of modern retail strategies, driving customer engagement and measurable impact. This session, The Evolution of In-Store Media Metrics: 2024 Highlights and 2025 Outlook, explores the pivotal developments of 2024, from enhanced measurement frameworks to breakthrough technologies reshaping the way we evaluate in-store campaigns. Looking ahead, the presentation will outline key trends and strategies for 2025, including the adoption of global standards, integration of media and sales driven analytics, and the evolving expectations of advertisers and retailers. Join us for a concise yet insightful exploration of how in-store media metrics are advancing and what lies ahead for this dynamic industry.
Retailers get real: How Carrefour sees the in-store RMN opportunity, featuring Alexis Marcombe, Global CEO of Unlimitail (Publicis & Carrefour) and Daniel Knapp, Chief Economist at IAB EuropeJoin Alexis Marcombe, CEO of Unlimitail, a joint venture between Carrefour and Publicis Groupe, and Daniel Knapp of IAB Europe, as they discuss the Carrefour in-store retail media network strategy, focusing on the key markets of France and Brazil. Discussing the adaptation of in-store media to regional consumer behaviors, digitizing stores, and identifying the most impactful and profitable digital surfaces, they will also explore metrics for measuring success, applying online marketing fundamentals to physical stores, and the role of non-endemic advertising.
Gain practical insights on market-specific strategies, key performance metrics, and how to effectively monetize in-store media across diverse markets from one of the leaders in the sector.
Presentation: Retail or media - Strategic Turning Point, presented by Robert Jozic, SVP Schwarz Media & Group Digital Strategy, Schwarz GroupPresentation: Retail or Media - Strategic Turning Point
The Schwarz Group is one of the world's largest retail companies, headquartered in, Germany, operates two major supermarket chains: Lidl, a global discount supermarket, and Kaufland, a hypermarket chain. With over 13,500 stores in more than 30 countries, the group is a significant player in the global retail market.
Robert Jozic leads the Schwarz Media Group. He will highlight strategic opportunities for retailers to enhance media capabilities and drive incremental growth, urging retailers to stop benchmarking against giants like Amazon, suggesting they may already excel as Retail Media players.
The key is shifting the focus from merely "customer reach" to "customer access"—the ability to drive sales—emphasizing retailers' potential to engage customers effectively. To tap into this potential, retailers need to leverage in-store initiatives, such as digital signage and loyalty apps. The presentation also encourages disrupting traditional media approaches by prioritizing incrementality, implementing cost-per-action (CPA) models, and creating comprehensive strategies for both endemic and non-endemic products. Ultimately, it calls for a proactive, clear integration of retail and media strategies, starting now.
Presentation: In-store RMN: Expect the unexpected, 2025 market and M&A analysis, featuring Mark Boidman, Partner, Head of Global Media at Solomon PartnersMark Boidman, Partner Head of Global Media at Soloman Partners, will delve into the rapidly evolving landscape of retail media, where traditional boundaries are blurring, and unexpected alliances and acquisitions are reshaping the industry. Drawing insights from recent M&A activity, the presentation will highlight key trends, potential opportunities, and the implications of unexpected partnerships, providing attendees with actionable insights for navigating the dynamic retail media landscape of 2025. Prepare to rethink the in-store RMN landscape as we explore the future where retail and media converge in unprecedented ways.
Panel: Brands Get Real: In Store RMN - Performance Media, Upper Funnel, or Both? Moderated by Lauren Johnson, Adweek, with Mike Sallette, Danone North America, Rachel Lawson, Mondelez International, Tijmen Willems, PRN, a STRATACACHE CompanyWhile in-store media reaches a large group of shoppers at the moment-of-truth, it's not a traditional mass media. To commit to investing large media budgets in store, brands need in-store campaigns to deliver insights and results. Through case studies with Brands and Retailers, the panel will discuss successful in-store campaigns and in-store media KPIs, as well as uncover how the rules of brand and retailer engagement are being rewritten by the RMN ecosystem.
Panel: Powering the CTV/RMN flywheel, moderated by Chris Riegel, Founder and CEO of STRATACACHE with Jayesh Rajdev, Controller of Advanced Advertising, ITV and Lindsay Pullins, Director of Ad Revenue Partnerships, RokuAs more brands leverage RMNs to activate shopper insights across CTV, marketers gain unprecedented opportunities to tailor messaging and measure campaign success across both in-store and at-home environments. But what does this seamless integration look like in practice? How can insights gathered from shoppers in the physical store fuel more personalized and impactful CTV ads that reach audiences on the sofa? This session will dive into the strategies and technologies that power the CTV/RMN flywheel, offering guidance on how brands can optimize advertising budgets and achieve measurable outcomes across the full customer journey. Attendees will learn about innovative ways to use data to bridge the gap between in-store behaviors and in-home viewing habits, evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns on CTV, and identify new opportunities for customer engagement as the boundaries between retail and media continue to blur.
Global playbook for in-store retail media: Lessons from the worldwide leaders and innovators, featuring Patricia Grundmann, OBI First Media Group; Christian Raveaux, REWE Group; Aline Garza Heiras, Walmart Connect Mexico, and Sean Crawford, SMGThis panel will provide a snapshot of in-store retail media innovation in select Global Markets, including the United States, Europe and Latin America, discussing which markets are leading the way in deployment, measurement and monetization. With both sides of the Atlantic looking to each other for best practices, the discussion will highlight successful in-store strategies that have captured advertiser attention and investment, while also addressing common missteps seen across regions.
