HKTDC MarketingPulse returns this month in Hong Kong, World-renowned marketers and advertisers share creative strategies

The second edition of MarketingPulse, a marketing conference organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), returns on 20 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. More than 40 globally celebrated marketing and advertising experts will share their success stories and the latest marketing trends.

Using creative storytelling to promote global brands

This year’s MarketingPulse will present seminars highlighting new marketing ideas and creative solutions that can help companies embrace new business models and customer clusters.

The morning session, titled “Dear Brands, Let’s Sail to the Future!”, will feature five industry heavyweights as speakers, including Bozoma Saint John, Chief Marketing Officer of Endeavor; Jonathan Mildenhall, co-founder & CEO of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand; Marcelo Pascoa, Head of Global Brand Marketing at Burger King; Keiei Sho, Executive Officer, General Manager of Overseas Business Division at Calbee, Inc; and Michelle Cordeiro Grant, founder and CEO of LIVELY.

Ms Saint John is renowned as an innovative marketing and advertising executive and was named one of the world’s most creative people in the Ad Age “Creativity 50”. At Endeavor, a leading global marketing firm for entertainment, sports and fashion, she focuses on driving marketing efforts across a growing global network of companies. She previously served as Head of Global Consumer Marketing for iTunes & Apple Music, impressing the audience at Apple’s keynote Worldwide Developers Conference when introducing a new interface for Apple Music. Digital publication Buzzfeed later described her as “the coolest person to ever go on stage at an Apple event”.

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Another speaker, Dr Pascoa from fast food chain Burger King, believes that creative work can be a source of real change that can make the world a better and more interesting place. His bold creativity has helped international companies such as Burger King and, previously, Coca-Cola refresh their brands. In 2017, Burger King rolled out a 15-second advertisement that quickly went viral around the world and earned the company a Grand Prix award at the Cannes Lions International Festival, an event widely regarded as the Oscars of the advertising industry.

The HKTDC has invited a number of other top marketing gurus to share their insights at the one-day conference, including:

• Li Hui, Partner, Yitiao
• Regina Hui, Vice President, Communications, McDonald’s China
• Fu Peng, Director of International Business Department, JiangXiaoBao
• Frank Sliwka, Chief Operating Officer, ESL Gaming Pte Ltd
• Allan Phang, Head of Esports, AirAsia
• Richard Tsang, Chairman, Strategic Public Relations Group
• Angie Wong, Managing Director, Leo Burnett Shanghai
• Shuhei Tsuji, Creative Director, TBWA\HAKUHODO
• Vincent Tsui, founder & CEO, Toast Communications Limited
• Lok Chi Hou (Sixtycents), founder & CEO, Manner Culture Limited
• Juno Mak, Creator of Kudos Films Ltd, Imagine.Nation Entertainment Ltd and Chapel of Dawn Co Ltd

Newly introduced this year, Digital marketing workshops hosted by Google, Baidu, LinkedIn, Cloudbreakr, 360 Search and iClick will offer practical lectures in areas ranging from search engine marketing and optimisation (SEM/SEO) and artificial intelligence-based influencer marketing to Mainland China digital trends and self-marketing.

More heavyweight speakers are expected to join the line-up. Please refer to the website’s Speaker List for the latest information. For interviews with speakers, please email your interview outline and contact information to christine.kam@hktdc.org.