This week it has finally been revealed that serial entrepreneur, broadcaster and Man Utd legend Gary Neville is the latest headline speaker to confirm for MAD//UpNorth (26th-27th February), alongside Yorkshire-based comedian, writer and broadcaster Lucy Beaumont, plus our MAD//Masters legend, Rory Sutherland.
Neville will tackle MAD//UpNorth’s ‘What Sets Us Apart’ theme in an opening keynote on 27th February on the Havas Factory Stage. He joins a star-studded line-up including Comedian Lucy Beaumont, Ogilvy Vice-chair Rory Sutherland, and AO World Founder and CEO John Roberts. New for 2025, MAD//UpNorth has been created as a flagship festival for the north’s marketing industry and is expected to be attended by 4,000+ brands, agencies, publishers and content creators.
In addition to Gary and Lucy, the always amazing Rory Sutherland is paired with Bolton’s finest entrepreneur/AO World founder + CEO John Roberts for a fireside chat on creativity, innovation and the role of psychology in business (26 Feb, 10:10, Havas Media Factory Stage).
“Gary gave an inspiring headliner at MAD//Fest London in 2023 and was the person who first encouraged us to seriously consider launching a festival in Manchester for the northern industry. It feels only right to have Gary on his home turf sharing his views on our festival theme. We can’t wait to spark discussion on how the north can leverage its cultural identity, unique specialisms and track-record for innovation in a global economy,” said Luke Wilcox, MAD//Fest’s content director.
Gary, Lucy, Rory and John will join a list of marketing stars on the Factory Stage in partnership with Havas. They include, Kenyatte Nelson, Chief Membership & Customer Officer, Co-op, Adam Zavalis, Chief Marketing Officer, ASDA, Michelle Spillane, Chief Marketing Officer, Paddy Power, Danny Micklethwaite, Chief Marketing Officer, Arla Foods, and Jon Kell, Global Marketing Director.
MAD//UpNorth is taking place in Manchester at the Aviva Studios (aka Factory International on 26th & 27th February.)
View the agenda here.
Get your ticket here.