Wednesday, 04/16
8:45 AM ET
8:45 AM ET
Registration & Check-In
9:15 AM ET
9:15 AM ET
Breakfast & Coffee Service available
9:30 AM ET
9:30 AM ET
Opening Remarks
- MC
- Tanya Gazdik, Senior Editor, Automotive, MediaPost @TanyaGazdik
9:40 AM ET
9:40 AM ET
NYIAS Celebrates 125th Anniversary
- Presenter
- Steve Smith, VP, Editorial Director, Events, MediaPost @popeyesm
9:55 AM ET
9:55 AM ET
Sponsor Spotlight Presentation
10:15 AM ET
10:15 AM ET
Keynote Interview: Nissan Embraces ‘Critical Juncture’
Nissan has been in and out of the news as it looks to reinvent itself amongst financial challenges. Of course, marketing is a big part of that equation. Allyson Witherspoon resumed responsibility as U.S. chief marketing officer for the Nissan brand in November.
- Interviewee
- Allyson Witherspoon, CMO, Nissan U.S.
- Interviewer
- Tanya Gazdik, Senior Editor, Automotive, MediaPost @TanyaGazdik
10:50 AM ET
10:50 AM ET
Coffee Break
11:10 AM ET
11:10 AM ET
Panel Discussion: Automakers Focus on Social Responsibility
Doing good comes naturally to a lot of automakers. Whether it’s events that focus on children or the environment or volunteerism, there are some exciting and heartstring-pulling activities going on. While this isn’t marketing per se, it’s consumer facing . Study after study shows that consumers want to do business with companies they feel good about. These automakers show us how it’s done.
- IntervieweeS
- Joe Provenzano, Director of Mobility & Volunteerism, Ford Philanthropy
- Kevin Reilly, Vice Chair of Hyundai Hope On Wheels, and Chairman, National Dealer Advisory Council, Hyundai Motor America
- Interviewer
- Lisa Singer, Senior Director, Event Programming, MediaPost @LisaMSinger
11:50 AM ET
11:50 AM ET
Lunch
12:30 PM ET
12:30 PM ET
Fireside Chat: Mercedes-Benz Redefines Luxury For Next Generation of Drivers
Mercedes-Benz is redefining luxury for a new generation by offering the best engineering and design. Lee discusses the importance of brand relevance, balancing short- and long-term goals, and her approach to leadership. Lee’s marketing team focuses on impactful collaborations including the Masters Tournament.
- Interviewee
- Melody Lee, Chief Marketing Officer, Mercedes-Benz USA
- Interviewer
- Tanya Gazdik, Senior Editor, Automotive, MediaPost @TanyaGazdik
1:10 PM ET
1:10 PM ET
Q&A With MediaPost’s Automotive Agency of the Year: Johannes Leonardo
As the lead agency for Volkswagen of America since 2019, Johannes Leonardo's work is a model of consistency and connection with what is important to its audience. The agency helped the brand mark its 75th anniversary in America with a landmark campaign grounded in a simple yet profound truth: The Volkswagen brand isn’t shaped solely by Volkswagen, but by the millions of drivers who transformed the brand into what it is today.
- IntervieweeS
- Helen Andrews, Chief Executive Officer, Johannes Leonardo
- Jonathan Santana, Chief Creative Officer, Johannes Leonardo
- Interviewer
- Joe Mandese, Editor-in-Chief, MediaPost @jmandese
1:50 PM ET
1:50 PM ET
Coffee & Networking Break
2:05 PM ET
2:05 PM ET
Q&A With MediaPost’s Automotive Marketer of the Year: Andrew Savvas
Volkswagen has had a heck of of a significant year. Between exciting product launches like the VW ID.Buzz and sponsorships such as the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary season, the creative has followed suit. Savvas recently celebrated his third anniversary as chief sales and marketing officer, Volkswagen North American Region. He has a penchant for shaking things up and is a believer of “Why fit in when you are born to stand out?”
- Interviewee
- Andrew Savvas, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Volkswagen North America
- Interviewer
- Tanya Gazdik, Senior Editor, Automotive, MediaPost @TanyaGazdik
2:45 PM ET
2:45 PM ET
Cocktail Party: Meet the Marketing Automotive Award Winners
2:45 PM ET
2:45 PM ET
Meet the Marketing Automotive Award Winners
Featuring the 2025 K4 compact sedan, the Kia TikTok Car Creator Configurator is an entirely new way to configure a vehicle, featuring engaging video transitions that allow the user to build the K4 with the specifications they want and need. To bring the first-of-its-kind configurator to life, Kia collaborated with eight popular creators on TikTok to produce a series of engaging videos covering the most popular Kia K4 trim levels and options.
- IntervieweeS
- Dan Keefe, Vice President, Head of Brand, Innocean USA
- Russell Wager, Vice President, Marketing, Kia America @Russell_Wager
- Interviewer
- Lisa Singer, Senior Director, Event Programming, MediaPost @LisaMSinger
4:00 PM ET
4:00 PM ET
Cocktail Party concludes
4:00 PM ET
4:00 PM ET
NY Auto Show Floor Visit
Complimentary access with conference badge.
5:00 PM ET
5:00 PM ET
Auto Show Floor closes
