Kansas City, Missouri — February 2, 2021 — Tom Fishburne, a consumer goods marketing expert who creates cartoons under the name Marketoonist, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for Petfood Forum 2021. The annual conference and exhibition are scheduled for Sept. 22-24, 2021, in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Using his illustrations, Fishburne will explain how pet food “Davids” can compete against Goliaths using innovation — or to remain innovative Davids even within a larger, Goliath-like pet food company.

“Fishburne will share tips for transforming ideas into new products and methods for building a culture that champions creativity, which is particularly important in the highly competitive pet food industry,” said Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry.

Fishburne started drawing cartoons on the backs of business cases as a Harvard Business School student. His Marketoonist series began with an emailed cartoon to coworkers in 2002, growing through word of mouth to now reach a few hundred thousand marketing professionals every week. His cartoons have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company and The New York Times, and have twice appeared on billboard ads in Times Square and helped win a Guinness World Record.

Fishburne has 20 years of experience in marketing within the U.S. and Europe. He has served as interim chief marketing officer at HotelTonight, marketing vice president at Method Products and brand management professional for Nestlé and General Mills. He is the author of “Your Ad Ignored Here: Cartoons from 15 Years of Marketing, Business and Doodling in Meetings.” Cartoonist-in-residence and guest lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, he also delivered a TED talk on “The Power of Laughing at Ourselves.”

In addition to the keynote presentation, Petfood Forum includes unique networking opportunities with top decision-makers and dozens of educational sessions, led by globally recognized experts focused on the latest pet food trends and innovations. The 2021 edition also features a robust exhibit hall floor where attendees will engage with supplier companies crucial to the global pet food industry.

A new edition of the Petfood Essentials will take place the day prior to the commencement of Petfood Forum on Sept. 22.

Registration and full agenda details will be announced Spring 2021. For more information and to complete a quick poll on attending Petfood Forum 2021 visit, PetfoodForumEvents.com.

About Petfood Forum & Petfood Industry
Petfood Forum is organized and hosted by Petfood Industry. Both are owned by WATT Global Media, a company that grows agrifood and pet food businesses with proven results for over 100 years. Access the market expertise, engaged audiences and targeted solutions that lead to successful connections in the poultry, feed and pet food markets. With WATT Global Media, gain a global advantage in implementing dynamic marketing solutions through innovative technology and delivery channels.

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Contact:
Lynzee Branstetter, Forum Marketing Coordinator
t. +1.815.966.5521 | e. events@wattglobal.com