Last week, James House (our Chief Commercial Officer) and Anna Jaycocks (Global Marketing Director), had the privilege of representing Reward at the world-renowned Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity – a global celebration of innovation, impact, and inspiration in marketing and advertising.
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships
One of the biggest highlights was spending valuable time with our longstanding collaborators at Experian. It was a fantastic opportunity to align on future priorities, share insights, and continue building a strong, impactful partnership.
We also enjoyed quality time with our partners at Affinity Solutions. A special moment came as James sat on a brilliant panel discussion focused on AI and marketing attribution - a key theme across the festival and one that continues to evolve rapidly.
We joined an insightful breakfast roundtable with PubMatic and IAB Europe, where we explored key findings from the Attitudes to Retail Media survey (out very soon). The discussion unpacked how advertisers and retail media networks are driving investment, growth, and innovation, with PubMatic offering fresh views on how the open internet is powering the next wave of commerce media.
In addition, we reconnected with a number of brilliant partners both new and familiar. Cannes Lions offers such a unique space for strengthening relationships and building new ones, all while sharing a vision for what’s next.
AI at the Centre of the Conversation
This year, one topic stood out above all: the role of artificial intelligence in marketing and beyond. From formal sessions to informal chats over coffee, the conversation around AI’s impact, potential, and responsibility was constant and compelling.
AI-driven measurement, creative automation, and the ethical use of data were just a few of the major talking points. As James discussed on his panel, the future of marketing attribution will rely heavily on how effectively we use AI to interpret, optimise, and personalise in real time.
It’s clear that AI is no longer a future trend – it’s here, it’s active, and it’s transforming the industry.
Immersed in Innovation and Creativity
As always, creativity reigned supreme throughout the festival. The energy across the Croisette was electric, with brand activations that pushed boundaries and delivered immersive, memorable experiences. Some of our favourites included:
- Stagwell Beach – an engaging hub for innovation, showcasing the future of marketing tech with a bold and collaborative spirit
- Havas Café – a lively and creative setting for connection, conversation, and standout programming that reflected the best of agency culture and client collaboration.
- Amazon Port – a vibrant activation packed with hands-on experiences and insightful programming that brought Amazon’s marketing capabilities to life.
- LinkedIn Studio – a hub of thought-leadership and smart conversations, offering deep dives into the evolving world of professional communities and B2B marketing.
A Festival Full of Energy (and a Few Famous Faces)
No Cannes Lions would be complete without a few celebrity encounters. We spotted Travis Kelce and his brother, as well as the energetic Tom Grennan, both adding to the buzz and excitement on the ground.
And the highlight? We met our friends and partners at the DoubleVerify & Affinity Solutions party and enjoyed Howard Jones smashing out the records – a brilliant end to an inspiring day in Cannes.
Attending Cannes Lions is always a powerful reminder of the importance of creativity, connection, and curiosity. We return inspired, energised, and full of ideas on how to continue delivering meaningful results for our partners and clients.
