Advertising summit ‘shows capital’s relentless energy’

London has cemented its position as a global capital for the creative industries following the success of last year’s Olympics, according to the organisers of Advertising Week Europe.

Matt Scheckner, who founded Advertising Week in his native New York a decade ago and has brought the four-day summit to London for the first time, said: “London is an iconic world city built on the cross-section of creativity and innovation and from where we sit in America, it is the capital city of the entire Europe, Middle East and Africa region.”

Dozens of leading figures from advertising, sport and music are taking part in Advertising Week Europe, including WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell, former London Olympics organising committee chairman Lord Coe, Team GB cycling guru Sir Dave Brailsford and DJ Mark Ronson.

More than 12,000 people are set to attend events over the next four days at a string of venues including Bafta in Piccadilly, Kensington Palace, the Abbey Road recording studios in St John’s Wood and Ronnie Scott’s in Soho. ITV is hosting the opening gala tonight at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Research by Deloitte for the Advertising Association shows the UK advertising industry is worth £16 billion a year. James Murphy, chief executive of Adam & Eve/DDB, the agency behind John Lewis’s hit adverts, said: “No city matches London’s relentless energy in the arts, innovation and commerce. Advertising is one part of the creative economy that is undeniably world-beating.”

The Evening Standard, ITV, Channel 4 and Spotify are among the sponsors of Advertising Week Europe.