Host James Welch sits down with Criteo’s Steve Mader, a commerce heavyweight operating at the intersection of retail’s future and global brand strategy. Steve unpacks the critical signals from Amazon Unboxed and reveals how Criteo is simplifying and democratising access to retail media for the world's biggest brands. Tune in for a masterclass on rewiring organisations for e-commerce and why the "move fast and break things" mantra might just make you an ass.

Interview Guide

This chat follows our "Signals & Sparks" format, where we find the method in the madness and the data behind the creative spark. Here’s what we covered:

The Signal in the Noise: Steve focuses on the recent Amazon Unboxed conference, highlighting their move towards campaign builders and full-funnel orchestration agents. He views this as a major signal for the industry: a shift towards simplifying the buying process and democratising access to retail media tools, ensuring you don't need an "army of hands-on keyboard folks" to operate effectively.

Connecting the Dots: Steve connects the dots by leveraging Criteo's massive scale—over 230 retailers—to paint a unique picture of shopper behaviour. He explains how combining search trends with performance media data allows advertisers to target abandoned baskets and build custom audiences, ultimately helping large brands "rewire themselves" to capitalise on e-commerce growth.

Quick-fire: The quick-fire round to get to know them better:

1. Hero: The original leadership team at Kantar in Boston, who taught him the foundational "four box models" of retail that he still uses 20 years later.
2. Best Decision: Moving to London with his wife without ever having visited before, a decision that led to "cartoon character" children with dual accents and a love for the city.
3. Worst Decision: Adopting a "move fast and break things" mentality early in his career within a culture that didn't support it, learning the hard way that if you break things alone, "all you are is just an ass."
4. Funniest Moment: Watching his usually articulate wife go completely mute on live Canadian television during the London Olympics when news anchor Peter Mansbridge put a microphone in her face at a pub.
5. A Bright Spark: Patrick Ryan, former Global Head of Business Development at PHD, recommended for his unique storytelling ability and skill in orchestrating agency opportunities.

📍 Keywords:

Steve Mader, retail media, Criteo, Amazon Unboxed, commerce trends, digital shelf, retail advertising, ecommerce strategy, retail media networks, RMN, shopper behaviour, performance media, ad tech, marketing strategy, supply chain, digital transformation, retail data, audience targeting, omnichannel marketing, brand strategy, media planning, CPG marketing, retail innovation, Amazon advertising, Walmart Connect, Tesco media, nectar, online retail, programmatic advertising, demand side platform, DSP, commerce media, shopper insights, data monetisation, marketing attribution, full funnel marketing, London tech, ad tech leadership, business development, agency partnerships, digital commerce, automated retail, agentic AI, retail ecosystem, consumer trends, strategic partnerships, global retail, marketing orchestration

🔎 Relevant Hashtags:

#SteveMader...

20 - Jesh Sukwani : Asia’s Edge, Media’s Future & The Power of Travel Data

Host James Welch, a former 24-7 Media innovation captain, grills Global Media and Marketing Transformation Executive Jesh Sukwani—the mastermind who once led Zaxis behind the Great Firewall in China for WPP. Now based in Milan, Jesh shares his winning strategies for future-proofing a CMO’s toolkit. Tune in as they dive deep into the revolution shaping the future of global media, marketing, and data.

Interview Guide

This chat follows our "Signals & Sparks" format, where we find the method in the madness and the data behind the creative spark. Here’s what we covered:

The Signal in the Noise: Jesh sees Asia—spanning from the UAE to Japan—as a powerful signal for the future, noting its energetic, can-do mentality and advancements in creative industries and the democratisation of AI. He highlights the development of cost-effective, mixed-model AI solutions and the success of B2C platforms like TikTok, which created an entire content creation industry.

Connecting the Dots: Jesh, who spent almost five years leading media and the COE at Lenovo/Motorola, is focused on the changing dynamics of how brands engage with media agencies. He argues that an updated compensation model is required to utilise first-party data effectively to develop models and drive better outcomes, connecting media, technology, and data. Jesh also stresses the under-monetisation of travel data, which he categorises as a subsection of retail media, and the opportunity to use audience data (e.g., specific flight routes) to target audiences with intent, consideration, and a strong call to action.

Quick-fire. The quick-fire round to get to know them better:

Hero: Too many to name, referring to all the people who have been alongside him on his journey, both privately and professionally.

Best Decision: Coming into and remaining in the media and marketing industry, calling it dynamic, changing, and potentially the most profitable.

Worst Decision: Underestimating his own abilities and not taking a leap of faith to move to Dubai or the Caribbean when he had the opportunities early in his career.

A Bright Spark: Anthony Rhind, a London-based executive with a fascinating career path spanning agency, tech, and media.

📍Keywords:

Jesh Sukwani, Asia’s edge, media future, travel data, digital Asia, media evolution, Asian innovation, travel analytics, media transformation, data insights, digital disruption, travel intelligence, Asia tech growth, media modernization, emerging markets, digital media trends, Asian business growth, content strategy, global travel trends, data-driven insights, predictive analytics, travel forecasting, media industry trends, digital storytelling, Asia digital economy, audience analytics, tech adoption Asia, travel industry data, media platforms, smart data systems, content distribution, digital content strategy, data-powered decisions, media tech, travel consumer insights, Asian markets, content ecosystems, travel segmentation, digital transformation Asia, travel demand analysis, media performance, cross-border travel trends, Asia competitive edge, global content strategy, media engagement, travel patterns, data science travel, media analytics tools, Asia leadership, future-ready media, travel behavior insights, digital travel tools, content innovation, Asia storytelling, digital systems Asia, audience behavior, business intelligence Asia, travel data platforms, media production trends, travel marketing, digital research Asia, travel experiences data, media growth strategy, regional media growth, data monetization, tech-driven media, analytics-driven travel, Asia-focused content, travel insights 2025, global audience data, media architecture, travel trends analysis, Asia market insights, content performance analytics, smart travel solutions, digital travel platforms, Asia future trends, global...

Welcome to After Dinner Chats: Signals & Sparks, the series where we find the method in the madness and the signal in the deafening noise of data and tech.

This week, host James Welch brings in a guest from his own team: WPP's David Spencer. David's the colleague who gets the "weird and wonderful" tech problems, the ones ad agencies don't normally solve, and somehow finds a "springboard for success."

Get ready to hear about the incredible Easter eggs hidden in Lando Norris's new F1 website (and how to find them), why the future of AI isn't one big "bulldozer" but a team of specialist agents, and a truly... unfortunate... triathlon mishap. This is one of those conversations that is both fun and useful.

📍Keywords: •

After Dinner Chats, Signals and Sparks podcast, Guest 19 interview, David Spencer, David Spencer interview, Lando Norris discussion, Lando F1 analysis, Formula 1 podcast, F1 insider talk, motorsport podcast, racing industry insights, F1 agents explained, driver management F1, F1 career strategy, Formula One culture, F1 media talk, racing business podcast, motorsport storytelling, F1 behind the scenes, Lando Norris fans, McLaren F1 content, F1 helmet design, disco helmet F1, unique F1 helmets, racing branding, motorsport marketing, F1 innovation talk, F1 lifestyle discussion, racing personality podcast, motorsport interviews, Formula 1 trends, F1 paddock stories, modern F1 podcast, racing agents role, motorsport management, F1 fan podcast, racing analysis show, motorsport community, high performance racing, elite motorsport talk, F1 conversation podcast, long-form racing interview, motorsport thought leadership

🔎 Relevant Hashtags: •

#AfterDinnerChats #SignalsAndSparks #PodcastGuest19 #DavidSpencer #LandoNorris #Formula1 #F1Podcast #MotorsportTalk #F1Agents #RacingCulture #F1Helmets #DiscoHelmet #MotorsportPodcast #RacingStories #F1Insights #F1Fans #McLarenF1 #BehindTheScenes #MotorsportMedia #LongFormPodcast