ProcureCon Marketing 2024: A Wrap Up from WBR Insights Procurement

06/07/2024

ProcureCon Marketing has wrapped up for 2024, and what a whirlwind it was! Over two days, procurement professionals from across Europe converged on London to connect, learn, and share insights. From engaging keynotes to insightful workshops, the event buzzed with a shared energy for pushing the boundaries of the procurement marketing function.

Day 1: Setting the Stage for Procurement Excellence

The event kicked off with a bang, as Tracey Mackey, Head of Marketing, Business Services and IT Procurement at Unilever delivered a thought-provoking keynote address on supplier collaboration in a new world of innovation. Tracey explored how technology can help with speed, customisation and cost, and emphasised the importance of collaborating effectively with suppliers. This set the tone for the day, leaving attendees eager to delve deeper into specific topics.

Following the opening keynote, the morning sessions offered a diverse range of presentations. From developing an integrated global category management strategy to the changing face of consumer marketing and unleashing the power of AI, we had all of the hottest topics and themes in procurement marketing covered.

And, we continued that theme into the afternoon, once attendees were fed as well as they were networked. The afternoon brought a series of concurrent breakout sessions, allowing attendees to tailor their learning experience. Attendees were able to choose across a number of themes. Over in Stream A, Richard Beaumont, Founder at Eruditic Chaired some sessions on the following:

  • Analytics and Personalisation
  • Moving Beyond Cost Savings • Harmony in Advertising
  • Finance, Tech and Marketing Procurement: A Trio Triumph
  • Transformation in Creative

Meanwhile those in attendance in Stream B saw Tina Fegent, Director at Tina Fegent Ltd Chair the following sessions:

  • Martech Investments
  • The Pivotal Role of Marketing Procurement in Building Trust
  • Navigating Transparency
  • Agency Remuneration Models
  • Catching the Social Media Wave

Finally, after a full day's worth of learning, collaborating and networking (and some beers and bubbles roundtables), attendees were whisked away on the iconic London red buses to a networking drinks reception at Indicia Worldwide HQ. And in truth, that brought an end to a very successful day one.


Day 2: Deep Dives and Networking Opportunities

You know what they say? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And with the universal truth, day two brought much more of the same for attendees, as we took an even deeper dive into the key themes affecting procurement marketing this year. Kicking off with a case study on the role of procurement in a transition period, Mylene de Saint Pierre, Head of Global Marketing Services Procurement at Essilor Luxottica. Mylene told the story of how two companies aligned different marketing buying models to get the best of both worlds and get more efficiencies in place.

Following the panel discussion, the stage was set for an all-star fireside chat with procurement leaders from Danone, Barclays, Suntory, Conscious Advertising Network and Tina Fegent Ltd. The group spoke on 'Sourcing with purpose: How can you build a responsible end-to-end sourcing process to meet your sustainability, DEI and data ethics goals?'

The morning also saw various case studies on Getting a Seat at the Table and Future-Proofing your Marketing Through Tech. We even had an excellent Dragon's Den, where we heard from two of the most cutting-edge agencies. Moderated by Tina Fegent, Danny Gal, Co-Founder at Proteams Europe and Kai Bastard, Founder at Bad Star Studios were put to the test by Dragons Andras Mohos, Louise Deane and Laura Bozzano.

The afternoon broke out into two streams again, and were chaired by Richard Beaumont and Tina Fegent. The two streams featured even more amazing sessions including:

  • Responsible Marketing
  • Ads Accessible to All
  • Attraction Talent
  • New to Procurement

And while the presentations and workshops provided a wealth of knowledge, the true power of ProcureCon Marketing lay in the networking opportunities it offered. The dedicated networking zone buzzed with activity as attendees exchanged ideas, forged new connections, and strengthened existing relationships.

Looking Forward: Building on the Momentum

As the event drew to a close, one thing is clear: the future of procurement is bright. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and strategic thinking, procurement professionals are poised to play a vital role in driving organisational success. We at the ProcureCon Marketing team are excited to see how the insights and connections fostered at this event translate into real-world results.

We look forward to seeing you again at ProcureCon Marketing 2025!

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