Lead, the advertising industry’s annual summit, is poised to return on 6 February 2025 at the QEII Centre in London with a focus on growth and value.

The summit is always one of the most important events in the marketing and advertising calendar with ISBA, the IPA and the Advertising Association coming together to set the agenda for the year ahead.

Speakers will include the IPA’s Josh Krichefski, CEO of GroupM EMEA & UK and ISBA’s Pete Markey, CMO of Boots. Samira Ahmed, Journalist and Broadcaster, returns as host of the event and a full speaker line-up will be announced shortly.

The conference comes at a key time for the industry, where the need to highlight the industry’s economic and social contribution is clear. The advent of a new government, the first formed by the Labour Party in 14 years, is an inflexion point for the industry.

The half day summit will include leaders from the world of politics and advertising. As well as focus on networking for the 400 attendees. Partners for Lead 2025 include Ozone, Google and Meta.

Phil Smith, Director General, ISBA, explained: “As government and industry focus together on growth, the importance of a trustworthy advertising ecosystem cannot be underestimated. The summit will talk to our collective efforts to ensure the UK remains one of the best places in the world for companies to compete, innovate and invest in the reputation of their brands.”

Paul Bainsfair, Director General, IPA, added: “This is an important annual set piece for our industry because it is the only time we can collectively come together to hear the up-to-date economic and political outlooks and consider the big picture business issues outside of our own initiatives. It is a moment when we can know, and be proud of, the UK’s creative achievement and contribution to the economy.”

First established in 2012, the event has seen industry and media figures take to the stage including The Rt Hon Gordon Brown, Dame Carolyn McCall, Evan Davis, Nina Hossain, Steve Richards and Lord Grade, along with many Government Ministers, including DCMS Secretaries of State.

Stephen Woodford, CEO, Advertising Association, explained: “With our new Government’s welcome objective for the UK to have the highest growth in the G7, the role of advertising as an engine for the economy has never been more important. This summit will take a fresh look at advertising’s power to help business compete, innovate and create jobs at a time of tremendous change.”

A full programme for the event will be published in the coming weeks.

Tickets are now on sale here.