Goafest 2012: Erik Vervroegen, Lucas Watson and Simon Wardle added to the list of speakers

The Goafest Committee has announced three more names of speakers for the
Knowledge Seminars at Goafest 2012. The new speakers for the event are Erik Vervroegen, international creative director, Publicis Worldwide; Lucas Watson, vice president, global sales and industry marketing, YouTube and Simon Wardle, chief strategy officer, Octagon.

Commenting on the lineup of the speakers for Goafest 2012 Knowledge Seminars, MG. Parameswaran, member of Goafest 2012 committee said, “At Goafest 2012, we have brought together not just great speakers, but thought disrupters. Our main aim is to enable the transference of thought provoking ideas, radical enough to stimulate actions that truly stand the test of time.” 

Arvind Sharma, chairman, Goafest 2012 Organising Committee, added, “We want the young minds to get an opportunity to engage in conversation with extremely distinguished personalities of the communications industry. Getting these stalwarts of the industry to speak at the Knowledge Seminars will prove a great learning experience for the younger generation and will encourage them to do great work.”

Prior to this the Goafest Committee had announced three speakers for the Goafest 2012 Knowledge Seminars: Amir Kassaei, chief creative officer, DDB Worldwide, Rishad Tobaccowala, chief strategy and innovation officer, VivaKi, and Prof. John Philip Jones, emeritus professor at the Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, New York.

A brief on the speakers:

Erik Vervroegen, International Creative Director at Publicis Worldwide

Erik Vervroegen has led agencies in South Africa, Paris and New York. He has worked on iconic brands such as Nissan, Playstation 2, McDonald’s, The New York Times, Excedrin, BMW, Wonderbra, Land Rover and Rayban. He began his career in his native Belgium, moving to TBWA Hunt Lascaris in South Africa and then onto Bozell New York. From there Erik moved to France as Executive Creative Director and President of TBWA Paris. Under his leadership TBWA Paris became Cannes Agency of the Year four years in a row. Returning to the USA Erik joined the San Francisco based, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.

Most recently Erik has taken up the new challenge, International Creative Director Publicis Worldwide, which sees him sharing his experience with agencies throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America. Erik has been a juror or featured guest speaker at every major international
awards show.

Lucas Watson Vice President of Global Sales and Industry Marketing YouTube

Lucas Watson is the Vice President of Global Sales and Industry Marketing for Google’s Video business, which includes YouTube and Google TV Ads. In this role, Lucas is responsible for delivering the revenue growth goals for this rapidly growing business. Lucas is also focused on making Google a world class brand building solution for advertisers. Lucas leads the commercial go-to-market strategy for YouTube and Google TV Ads which includes the integration of sales, industry marketing, content commercialization, and product management.

Prior to his current role, Lucas spent seventeen years at Procter & Gamble, most recently as the Global Leader for the Digital Business & eCommerce team. Lucas transformed P&G’s brand building approach for the digital age. Under his leadership, P&G greatly expanded their sales in the eCommerce channel and many P&G brands such as Old Spice, Gillette, Pampers, and Tide achieved breakthrough business results because of their digital efforts. Before leading digital strategy at P&G, Lucas was a marketing leader for the Pampers and Luvs brands.

Simon Wardle, Chief Strategy Officer, Octagon

An expert in marketing research with 18 years of experience, Wardle joined Octagon in 2003 and established the agency's research division. He has developed a number of innovative sponsorship management tools including the ground-breaking Passion Drivers® research initiative that enables sponsors to develop compelling and relevant sponsorship leveraging programs based on a quantified understanding of why fans are so passionate about their favorite sports and music.