Kevin Bacon and Bozoma Saint John to Headline IAB 2026 Summit

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is preparing for a landmark edition of its Annual Leadership Meeting in 2026. The organization has unveiled an agenda featuring prominent figures including Kevin Bacon, Nissan U.S. CMO Allyson Witherspoon, creator Remi Bader, and Bozoma Saint John, the entrepreneur, co-host of On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

The schedule highlights the convergence of technology, celebrity influence, and cultural trends, demonstrating how these forces are reshaping consumer behavior. The event will explore how marketers and publishers can adapt to these shifts.

We are entering a period where AI agentsnot only consumerswill determine both purchasing choices and the messages that capture attention, said IAB CEO David Cohen. While the industry has spent billions learning to influence humans, we still lack insight into how to engage AI effectively.

Cohen emphasized that the sector has faced algorithm-driven changes before and must now respond faster and on a larger scale than ever. With interactions between companies and consumers becoming increasingly fleeting, partially due to AI, it will be more challenging for brands and publishers to measure impact accurately.

This year, the focus is on enabling transactions that rely on shared, accountable standardsnot just impressions or clicks, but real business outcomes, Cohen added. The IAB ALM aims to guide marketers through this growing complexity.

Featured Presenters at IAB ALM 2026

• Kevin Bacon Actor, director, musician, and philanthropist
• Bozoma Saint John Award-winning marketer, co-host of On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, and reality TV star
• Jamie Auslander SVP of Research, Measurement, and Analytics, Infillion
• Jonathan Halvorson Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, Kenvue
• Jennifer Brown Head of U.S. Influencer Marketing and Talent Partnerships, SHEIN
• Keri Degroote SVP of Sales, Research, and Analytics, SiriusXM Media
• Radhika Duggal VP, CMO, Major League Soccer
• Jeremi Gorman CRO of Fanatics Advertising, Fanatics
• Keith Lehman Global Director, Digital Commerce Marketing and Retail Media, Colgate-Palmolive
• Austin Leonard GM of DG Media Network, Dollar General
• Abi Subramanian Group VP of Loyalty, Walgreens Advertising Group and Owned Asset Monetization, Walgreens
• Kendall Toole Fitness instructor, content creator, lifestyle entrepreneur, and mental health advocate
• Gabi Viljoen VP and Head of E-commerce, Nestl Health Science U.S.

Author: Connor Blake