Obama adviser Eric Schultz to share White House comms learnings at The Drum’s Future of Marketing event
One of Barack Obama’s closest communications advisers is to be the keynote speaker at The Drum’s Future of Marketing event in London.
Eric Schultz speaking in the White House briefing room
Eric Schultz served as the principal deputy press secretary and special assistant to president Obama, representing the administration in front of the world’s media aboard Air Force One and in the White House briefing room. He is continuing to serve as a senior adviser to Obama as the former president embarks on his post-White House career.
Recognised by Politico as the strategist “White House officials turn to in a crisis to handle communications”, Schultz was originally hired at the White House in 2011 to respond to oversight investigations including the Solyndra bankruptcy, the justice department’s ‘Fast and Furious’ operation, the attacks in Benghazi and the uproar over alleged political targeting at the IRS.
At Future of Marketing, taking place on 11 May, Schultz will share what he learned from being on the frontline of Washington communications, offering a rare insight into presidential PR strategy and the digital and social media transformation of the White House which ramped up during Obama’s second term.
Cameron Clarke, the deputy editor of The Drum who will be interviewing Schultz at the event, said: “It’s going to be thrilling to hear from Eric about the kind of conversations that happen behind the scenes at the White House, and get the inside story of president Obama’s communications strategy.
“Day in, day out, brands are grappling with how to cut through to their audiences in a challenging modern media environment. I’m sure, therefore, that it will be invaluable for all of us to hear the insights Eric gleaned from excelling in probably the most intense media spotlight on the planet.”
The Future of Marketing will be a day-long event of talks, panel discussions and workshops covering a diverse range of topics designed to help marketers shape their strategy for the years ahead.
Among the prominent marketers joining Schultz in speaking at the event will be Microsoft’s consumer marketing director Paul Davies, Wimbledon comms chief Alexandra Willis and Paddy Power’s head of brand engagement Paul Mallon.
More names will be announced in the lead up to the event, but you can see the schedule so-far, and get your tickets, on the Future of Marketing website.
The Future of Marketing is partnered by Sysomos, Stein IAS and University of Oxford.