Our Media Matters event this year aims to explore, challenge and understand the tensions around the Metaverse that currently exists for both agencies and brands in these new spaces as well as taking a look at the roles and responsibilities that is needed by the ad industry as the Metaverse evolves into consumers everyday lives.

If the Metaverse is the promise of the next stage of the internet are agencies ready to embrace the rise as much as brands and consumers appear to be or is this all smoke and mirrors designed to disrupt the true path of long-term brand growth through media?

A new territory that is limited only by your imagination where offline and online collide, we discuss with our panellists what the Metaverse might mean for how brands grow and how consumers navigate truth and trust.

Ben Stevens, Global Content & Innovation Manager at Publicis Groupe

Ben has 15 years’ industry experience in content marketing spanning from publishing to brand to agency and is now responsible for driving globally scalable content, innovation services, and global partnerships with the major platform players across the Publicis Groupe. Ben’s key areas of focus include immersive solutions, metaverse experiences, AR, and gaming integrations for international brands. Having seen the impact of great content marketing from all sides Ben’s role delivers excellence in content marketing by building connectivity between international markets across Publicis network.

Anna O'Mahony, Global Product and Innovation Lead at Publicis Content

With over 18 years’ experience Anna is the Global Product and Innovation Lead in Publicis Content, a specialist division of Publicis Groupe focused on delivering content marketing and entertainment solutions for brands. Anna leads the development of global service and product portfolio, with a focus on ensuring Publicis Groupe continuously innovate their content and entertainment offering to reflect new platform trends and audience behaviours. The areas that that Anna currently focuses on developing new solutions in are in Content Intelligence and Strategy - data-driven owned and earned channel strategy, Gaming Partnerships - developing brand sponsorships and integrations with partners across the spectrum - broadcast, digital, streaming services, gaming, e-Sports, audio, Metaverse and Web3 - a new focus area, a natural extension of our gaming integrations skill set and all aspects of influencer marketing.

Ian McGrath, Global Media Director, PokerStars

Ian is a multi-disciplined, marketing leader with 22 years of experience across a breadth of industries and business challenges. Ian has years of previous agency experience with both Carat and MediaCom before changing to client-side in 2019. He was appointed Global Media Director for PokerStars in 2021. Ian is a strategic thinker and understands business and opportunity simply do not move at just one speed. He believes all successful plans start with focusing on the desired business outcomes and working backwards to simplify marketing's role in delivering business growth.