Some of the industry's biggest names will discuss the future of public relations and marketing at the Holmes Report's ThinkTank Live conference in Prague this week.

Taking place on 18 May, ahead of the SABRE Awards EMEA that evening, the conference will feature presentations from such luminaries as Ogilvy & Mather CEO Miles Young, Philips global comms chief Andre Manning, and ex-HP global CMO Andre Manning.

In addition, Weber Shandwick CEO Harris Diamond and Edelman CEO Richard Edelman will take part in a special panel discussion chaired by Holmes Report editor-in-chief Paul Holmes, exploring how PR agencies can take a more central role in marketing and brand-building.

The conference is taking place at Radiopalac Prague. The event is free for attendees of the SABRE Awards EMEA dinner, taking place on the evening of 18 May at Prague Castle. Please contact Celeste Picco to reserve a seat at the dinner, or book a ticket directly for the conference here. There are limited seats available.

Agenda

8.30am Registration

9.00-9.30 Paul Holmes, Editor of The Holmes Report

Welcome and Introduction

“The Changing Relationship Between Marketing and Public Relations”

At a time when consumers are increasingly skeptical about advertising and other traditional forms of mass communication, there is a hunger for greater authenticity, transparency, dialogue and engagement—a hunger that public relations is well-placed to satisfy.

9.30-10.30 Miles Young

“Silo or Prairie?”

Miles discusses the macro-opportunities of public relations in a world where change is forcing convergence between so-called "disciplines".

10.30-10.45 Break

10.45-11.35 Anne Villemoes

“Can You Be Friends with a Sausage?”

Who owns the platform – PR or marketing? What happens when it is divided so that PR owns Corporate Branding and marketing brands the products? Can you build a brand on campaigns – or do you have to be consistent in everything you do?

11.35-12.30 Andre Manning

“It Takes Two to Tango”

How PR and marketing can maximize their impact by operating in a coordinated way with PR-based dialogue as the future proof communications model.

12.30-2.00 Lunch break

2.00-3.00 Michael Mendenhall

TBC

3.00-4.15 Harris Diamond and Richard Edelman panel discussion

“Preparing PR Agencies to Meet the Marketing Challenges of the Future”

moderated by Paul Holmes

CMOs say they are increasingly willing to accept big branding ideas from all sources and disciplines. How do PR agencies need to change in order to generate those ideas? What new skills must they learn to implement them? This panel discussion will examine the challenges PR firms will face as they seek a more central role in marketing and brand-buidling.

The Twitter hashtag for this event is #thinktanklive . You can follow us at @holmesreport