The media plan is the focal point for our industry. Everyone in the online advertising business looking to secure media spend needs to get on the media plan. But there have been big changes over the past twelve months. Agencies are building trading desks and internal ad networks with the view of centralising the media buying process. The traditional demarcation between agencies, ad networks and publishers is being radically changed. So how will this affect the way media spend is allocated? Will there be a media plan in the coming years? Will all media buying be done from the agency trading desk - with external supply and third party plugged in? Does this mean traditional third party buyers are likely to disappear from the media buying landscape? Or will there be consolidation among the ad nets? Will ad nets have to go direct to survive? Will we see more in-housing of media buying? These are pertinent questions - and are very much on the minds of decision-makers in the industry. ATS London has put together a top-class panel to discuss these very issues on September 20. Every strand on the buy-side will be represented - from ad network right through to agency trading desk. The panel includes:

» Marco Bertozzi, Managing Director EMEA, Vivaki Nerve Center
» Nigel Gilbert, Head of Orange Ad Market
» Brandon Keenen, Director, Head of Sales AOL (UK), AOL
» Martin Kelly, Managing Partner, Infectious Media Ltd
» Gurman Hundal, Co-Founder, Media iQ Digital

The discussion will be led by Zuzanna Gierlinska, Director, Microsoft Media Network, EMEA. Gierlinska will have a unique perspective on this debate - given that her employer now operates a publisher, ad network and ad exchange. The evolution of the media plan will have a huge effect on this industry. This promises to be one of the big discussions of the day. I'm looking forward to it!

That panel in full:

Zuzanna Gierlinska, Director Microsoft Media Network, EMEA

Zuzanna is responsible for delivering Microsofts “Scaled Display” strategy, evangelizing the capabilities of the Microsoft Media Network and Microsoft Advertising Exchange driving revenue share and growth across the EMEA markets. Her role encompases overseeing sales, marketing and product development, acting as a pivitol point of feedback betweek the customer and Microsoft’s many Business Groups.

Zuzanna’s career began in digital media and over 12 years she’s worked across a multitude of both start-up and established business from ISPs and Portals to an online auction house and an internet retailer before joining Media Brokers, the UK’s 1st media network, in 2004. She stayed with this company running the sales division as it evolved into DRIVEpm and eventually joined Microsoft under the aQuantive acquisition in July 2008.

Zuzanna is a recognised industry expert on audience targeting and is this year’s vice-chair of the IAB’s Behaviour Targeting Council. She is a frequent and highly competant media commentator drawing upon her extensive experience and impressive insight to help shine a light on the fast paced and dynamic digital marketplace. Her consumate ability to educate businesses has led her to become one of Microsoft’s most visable industry evangelists.

Marco Bertozzi, Managing Director EMEA, Vivaki Nerve Center

Marco Bertozzi started his career in TV, moving into digital in 2000. A founding member of Zenith Interactive Solutions, Zenith's then digital arm, he enjoyed the highs and lows of the digital revolution, leaving Zed in 2005 as Commercial Director. After a couple of years as Marketing Director for ZenithOptimedia Marco moved to Head of Digital for the agency in 2007. A change of scene in 2008 saw him heading off to run media, web dev, digital and Creative at TMP Worldwide. Currently Managing Director of The VivaKi Nerve Center, EMEA, the future facing digital entity at VivaKi, where one of the core tasks is leading the strategy for Ad Exchange trading across the VivaKi agencies including Zenithoptimedia, SMG and Razorfish.

Brandon Keenen, Director, Head of Sales AOL (UK), AOL

After working his way through various disciplines of online advertising at AOL from search, affiliate, publisher network and now display sales, Brandon Keenen is currently the UK Sales Director for AOL Advertising and Advertising.com. Managing and directing a team of leaders across creative solutions, account management, agency, client sales and publishers. As part of the European team, Brandon helped get the business back to profitability by bringing the advertising.com network back to the forefront of the advertising space. Keenen originally worked as an entrepreneur in the financial lead generation space - where and his business partner successfully built a business with a turnover of £80 million.

Martin Kelly, Managing Partner, Infectious Media Ltd

Martin Kelly is the co-founder and managing partner of Infectious Media, the intelligent online display specialist. Infectious Media combines advanced analytics with proprietary targeting and optimisation tools to power efficient real-time online display advertising across Europe and was recently voted by The Telegraph and Techcrunch as one of the Top 100 European Tech Start-ups in 2011. Martin started his career as a press planner and buyer at Zenith Media before becoming a founding member of Zenith Interactive Solutions in 2000. Prior to founding Infectious Media, Martin was Board Media Director of Agency Republic, an Omnicom agency, and has been voted as one of the UK's top digital media planners by Campaign Magazine.

Gurman Hundal, Co-Founder, Media iQ Digital

Prior to launching Media iQ, Gurman set-up the online ad network, A&NY Media, for the large publishing group Associated Northcliffe Media. From when he joined in 2007 till present, the A&NY Media network was a major catalyst in positioning Associated as the most advanced online UK publisher, boasting a robust technology infrastructure and a highly impressive client retention rate. The network quickly became a central resource for the publishing house, spreading digital to various on and offline divisions throughout the group.

Nigel Gilbert, Chief development Officer, Unanimis/ Head of Orange Ad Market

Nigel has been working in the digital industry for over 10 years. As a founding partner of Unanimis, Nigel has established Unanimis as a successful buying point among all the major UK media agencies. He looks after all areas of UK market coverage across all divisions of the company. He also played a key role in launching Orange’s Ad Exchange (Orange Ad Market) in the UK which he now heads up. Prior to Unanimis he worked at Excite.co.uk and then moved on to become the first sales person at Ask Jeeves, launching it into the UK market.

There Are Still A Limited Number Of Tickets Available For ATS London. Book Your Place Today!