Asda, BBC and Kantar Confirmed to Speak at European Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit

Early bird registration is now open for B&LIS, which takes place June 9-11.

March 11, 2021

Licensing experts from Asda, BBC and Kantar are among the first round of speakers announced for Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit, which takes place online from June 9-11. Early bird registration for the summit is open now, with three-day passes starting at £175 (£161 for Licensing International members), and closes on April 16.

“We’re delighted to have such well-respected experts across retail, sustainability, consumer behavior and content trends joining us for the first B&LIS in June and are really excited to firm up many more inspirational names over the next few weeks,” says Anna Knight, vice president, licensing, Informa Markets.

The three-day event will help middle-management, business leaders and owners navigate the changing retail, content and consumer landscape through keynotes, panel discussions, roundtables and workshops all providing actionable advice, information and strategies on the future of brands and licensing.

Insights leaders Claire McLelland (Kantar client executive)

and Gary Pope (Kids Industries co-founder & CEO) will tackle the “consumer” as they join

License Global

’s content editor Ben Roberts to investigate the changing purchasing choices of children, Generation Z and Millennials.

Asda’s Ruth Golightly, who recently revealed the grocer was “unapologetic for its approach to own the market for licensed clothing in the U.K.,” will debate what’s next for brick-and-mortars and the future of the high-street consumer.

“We, as businesses and consumers, have undergone over a year of constant change,” says Claire McClelland, client executive, Kantar. “It’s been harder than ever to unlock opportunities through our core shoppers – as behavior is changing constantly to adapt to new rules. B&LIS will give attendees better clarity on the latest industry trends and provide actionable insight to plan with confidence.”

BBC Studios’ licensing director Rikesh Desai, Nutmeg Licensing managing director June Kirkwood and SGLP managing director Simon Gresswell will all take part in Day Two of B&LIS, which focuses on CSR and sustainability with a program exclusively curated by Products of Change.

“Education is the most powerful tool we have to change our social norms and drive business forward to a more sustainable future, with the smart insights gathered by the wonderful team at Informa and the caliber of speakers and topics of the inaugural B&LIS conference, I cannot think of a better stage to continue the sustainable conversation outside the POC platform and the SILC conference,” says Helena Mansell-Stopher, chief executive officer, Products of Change.

Online registration for the Brand & Licensing Innovation Summits is now open at www.brandlicensinginnovationsummit.com. Early bird discounts of 30 percent are available until April 16. A three-day delegate pass at the early bird rate will cost £175 (£161 for Licensing International members). Qualified retailers are invited to register for free.