The first AdForum Summit of 2025 will take place in New York City on Monday, May 12th, bringing together top search consultants and agencies from around the globe. This highly anticipated event serves as a unique platform for these industry leaders to connect, share insights, and foster relationships that drive growth for brands. With twice-yearly summits, AdForum continues its mission of bridging the gap between creative marketing agencies and consultants, creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

What to Expect from the Summit

AdForum’s Summit Week will feature an immersive series of private meetings where agency leaders will present their insights on driving growth through creativity, strategy, and technology. Consultants will gain an exclusive look at the newest marketing strategies and the results that come from the powerful intersection of creativity, strategy, and tech.

For agencies, the Summit represents a unique opportunity to showcase their skills to over 26 consultancies in a single meeting. The event is structured to foster meaningful interactions, enabling agencies to demonstrate their capabilities and gain valuable feedback from key decision-makers.

Industry Insights from Marketing Leaders

Ahead of the Summit, Vlad Komanicky, Co-founder of marketing advisory Alchemists, shared his thoughts on the current marketing landscape:

“Marketers today are facing a perfect storm: economic uncertainty, political volatility, shifting consumer expectations, and the relentless acceleration of technology. It’s not just about responding faster; it’s about fundamentally rethinking how brands operate, create, and connect. GenAI is one of the most powerful enablers in this shift, but it’s not a silver bullet—it’s part of a broader reengineering of marketing itself.”

Komanicky's advice to agency new business teams:

“Bring solutions that fit the world your clients are stepping into—not the one they are leaving behind.”

Tina Fegent, a procurement specialist and search consultant, also weighed in on the challenges marketers face today:

“From my conversations with brand-side clients, the most prevalent challenge marketers face today is delivering impact in an increasingly fragmented and fast-moving landscape. In such a busy agency marketplace, my role as a procurement and search consultant is to help clients cut through the complexity of the marketplace. That means being really clear about what kind of agency partner they need—strategically, culturally, and operationally—before we even begin shortlisting.”

Fegent’s advice to agency new business teams:

“Think beyond the case study reel. Show how your team thinks—how you solve problems, how you work together, and how you’ll make the client’s life easier. That’s what makes the difference in a pitch room.”

The Consultancy Delegation

The Summit will feature a delegation of leading consultants, including names like AAR Partners, Alchemists, Roth Ryan Hayes, CultureKey, PitchResult, and more. These firms are known for their expertise in helping brands navigate the complex marketing landscape and identify the best agency partners.

AdForum CEO’s Remarks

AdForum’s Global CEO, Philippe Paget, expressed excitement about the upcoming Summit:

“We are very excited to meet with top agencies in NYC at this Summit session, and uncover how they are delivering results for brands in a complex ecosystem. AdForum created the Summit more than 20 years ago as a bridge between top agencies and the search consultants who guide brand partnership decisions. We are enormously proud to help cultivate agency-to-consultant relationships and spark meaningful connections.”