The Brands Lecture - In person option

What really makes a brand unforgettable? Is it a flash of cultural magic, a campaign that shifts generations, or something deeper, woven into the way businesses are built? In a world of fleeting platforms and shifting consumer habits, the answer matters more than ever.

Few leaders know this better than Grant F. Reid. Over a 34-year career at Mars, he helped steer household names including M&Ms, Snickers, Galaxy, Dolmio, Pedigree, Royal Canin and Whiskas to new heights.

As CEO, he grew sales by more than 50% to over $45 billion, expanded the workforce to 140,000, and reshaped the portfolio through innovation and acquisitions, scaling Petcare into Mars’s largest business, Bringing together chocolate and Wrigley into a true snacking leader and advancing snack, Food and Edge into new areas in the future of nutrition and services.

Before becoming CEO, Grant ran Mars Chocolate globally and built his expertise across marketing, sales, manufacturing and procurement, giving him a rare 360-degree perspective on what truly powers brand growth.

In his lecture, he will share lessons drawn from timeless marketing thinking, inspired by great leaders and tested through real experience on a global stage. He will ask: which fundamentals still matter, which must be rethought in a short-form, always-on world, and how can blockbuster moments be turned into lasting equity?

This is not a retrospective. It is a rare chance to hear from one of the world’s most accomplished leaders on what it really takes to build brands that endure.

If you are unable to attend in person, an online option is available at the same price. To register for online participation, visit