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MAD//North returns to Manchester's St John's creative district on 25-26 Feb connect the north’s iconic brands, exciting disruptors, agencies, publishers, tech providers + platforms.
Frankly, such a buzzing ecosystem with unique specialisms, a culture of collaboration, strong sense of community + industry-leading talent pool deserves a major event that puts the north’s outstanding work, businesses + people on a global stage.
MAD//North isn’t your average dull trade show or yawn-inducing conference.
Featuring 6,000 industry leaders, superstar speakers, game changing disruptors, £20k brand innovation pitches, experiential activations, parties, DJs + entertainment, we’re putting on a punchy, vibrant + distinctive major festival to create a ‘moment’ where marketing tribes from across the north + beyond gather to learn, connect + talk shop.
The 2026 programme is currently in production - subscribe here for speaker alerts + more!
Vicki Maguire
// Chief Creative Officer, Havas
Vicki Maguire is a rare breed – a world-class creative, a woman leading the charge and a force for modernising our industry.
From her disastrous career in fashion, sacked by the likes of French Connection and Vivienne Westwood, she discovered a love for copy when Paul Smith told her to stop trying to draw and write her ideas down instead. She’s worked on campaigns for some of the best agencies in the world – including Grey, Widen + Kennedy, Mojo and Amsterdam International.
She was appointed Havas London’s first female Chief Creative Officer in January 2020 – just eight weeks before the global pandemic hit. Despite that, she helped steer the agency to its best-ever year creatively – winning its first Cannes Gold Lion in nearly a decade for the Black Plaque Project – led one of the most successful new business drives in its history, culminating in Havas being awarded the hotly-contested Asda account in May 2021, produced work that built fame and commercial resilience for clients, and drove culture which engaged and helped consumers and communities.
Kirsten Pugsley
// Marketing Director UK&I, Puma
Eleanor Barker
// CMO UK&I, PG Tips
Samantha Leach
// Chief Customer + Marketing Officer, boohoo
Adam Field
// VP Brand Marketing, Berghaus
Robert Faulkner
// Chief Business + Communications Officer, Wrexham AFC
Sara Holt
// Chief Marketing Officer, Center Parcs
Sara Holt joined Center Parcs as Chief Marketing Officer in 2025, leading brand, marketing, digital and communications across the UK & Ireland. She previously headed Sales & Marketing for Merlin Entertainments across the UK and Europe, overseeing world-famous attractions including Alton Towers, The London Eye and Madame Tussauds.
With a career spanning LEGO, the BBC and Global Media, Sara brings a blend of commercial rigour and creative ambition. Passionate about inclusion and mentoring, she’s driving a bold new chapter for Center Parcs with remit to modernise Center Parcs’ marketing strategy to drive short and long term growth.
Matthew Bulcroft
// Marketing Director, Global Brands Ltd (Hooch)
Matt Bulcroft is Marketing Director at Global Brands, where he leads a 50-strong team across brand strategy, creative, digital, and activation. Since joining the business in 2008, he’s worked his way up from sales to senior leadership, giving him a rare 360° view of how brands connect with consumers.
Today, Matt is the driving force behind some of the UK’s most loved (and talked-about) drinks brands, including Hooch, VK, and Franklin & Sons. From bold, tongue-in-cheek campaigns to heritage storytelling and premium serves, he’s passionate about building brands that punch above their weight and cut through in crowded markets.
Alongside brand building, Matt spearheads workforce modernisation at Global Brands, championing new ways of working and harnessing technology to keep teams agile, creative, and future-fit.
When he’s not shaping the future of drinks marketing, you’ll find him on the golf course, at Elland Road supporting Leeds United, or out in the Peak District with his dog.
Tim Donald
// Chief Creative Officer, Sneak Energy
Steve Seddon
// Chief Marketing Officer, Ice Travel Group
Rory Sutherland
// Vice Chairman, Ogilvy
Cara Chambers
// Chief Marketing Officer, C&C Group
Adam Smith
// Director, Retail Media, Iceland
Mark Brown
// Chief Marketing Officer, Hovis
Claire Sutton
// Cluster Marketing Director UK + I, Aunt Bessie's
Zoe Harris
// Chief Marketing Officer, On The Beach
Trevor Robinson OBE
// Founder and Executive Creative Director, Quiet Storm
Dan Rubel
// Brand and Marketing Director, Currys
Jo Arden
// Chief Strategy Officer, AMV BBDO
Joanna Carmen
// Director of Plusnet, Plusnet (BT)
Jeremy Way
// VP Strategy and Creative Partnerships, City Football Group
Naomi Walkland
// Chief Marketing Officer, Motorway
Doors Open & Attendee Check-in
Please have your entry QR codes which can be found in the Home Screen of the MAD//UpNorth app ready for scanning.
Welcome to MAD//UpNorth
Ian Houghton
Co-Founder, MAD//Fest
Dan Brain
Co-Founder, MAD//Fest
Chair's Welcome
Simon Lloyd
Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, ex BBC, Virgin Atlantic and Aldermore Bank.
Rory Sutherland in conversation with John Roberts, Founder of AO World
John Roberts
CEO and Founder, AO World
Rory Sutherland
Vice Chairman, Ogilvy
Who Attends?
80%
of tickets are for top tier brand marketers, agency leaders + media leaders via our complimentary guestlist initiative.
20%
of tickets are available to buy for martech/adtech innovators, platforms + solution/service providers.
MAD//UpNorth ‘26
- Get Involved
Interested in speaking, attending, sponsoring, exhibiting or meeting 6000 industry decision makers? Contact us to get involved with a punchy, vibrant + distinctive meeting of the north’s marketing tribes.
Sponsor//Exhibit at MAD//UpNorth ‘26
6000 attendees. 100% brands, media and disruptors. 0% time wasters.
MAD//Fest is all about bringing together the industry’s top brands + agencies in cool, creative spaces. So we’re excited to announce a brand new campus format for 2026!
MAD//North will return to St John's - Manchester's new neighbourhood for the creative industries where big name brands, major agencies + innovative businesses are changing the city’s landscape - physically and metaphorically.
And when MAD//North is in town, expect St John's to be buzzing with 6,000 influential marketers, inspiring content, the best solution/service providers, DJs, parties, entertainment, food, drink + much more. Why? To connect the marketing community, inspire new thinking + crystalise what makes the north a creative + innovation powerhouse!
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