Cindy Davis is executive vice president of Global Customer Insights & Analytics, leading a newly created team that will help both Walmart and Sam’s Club understand broad customer trends, provide insight into customers’ needs across the world and create advanced analytical tools to support the business.

Cindy joined the company in 2007 as senior vice president of Sam’s Club Membership and Marketing and was promoted to executive vice president of Membership, Marketing and eCommerce in 2008. She was responsible for growing the Sam’s Club member base by helping the company understand its member and better deliver superior value across all touch points.

Before joining the company, Cindy served as president of global development and communications at Rapp Collins Worldwide, where she was responsible for driving the company’s global growth and was a member of the organization’s Global Executive Council. Previously, she was vice president of brand marketing for the Pizza Hut division of YUM! Brands, where she was responsible for brand positioning, strategic development and national and field marketing.

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Phillip Chambers,
Senior Vice President, Global Insights,
PepsiCo

Phillip Chambers, senior vice president of Global Insights, responsible for leading the company’s Consumer & Shopper Insights agenda around the world. Phillip joined Pepsico in 2005, and until December last year he was VP of Insights, Pepsico Europe. Prior to Pepsico, Phillip spent 15 years at P&G, where he held a range of leadership positions in Consumer & Shopper Insights in Europe, South America and Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Phillip holds a BA Honours from the University of Western Australia, with majors in German Literature and Military History. 

Fern Grant,
Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning
MARS Advertising

Fern Grant, senior vice president, Strategic Planning, responsible for developing strategic solutions and innovative shopper marketing program strategies for MARS clients.  She joined MARS with more than 25 years experience in consumer research and planning, working for companies in both the U.S. and Europe, including Unilever, Levi’s, Nissan, Tesco and Heinz. She came to MARS from Leapfrog Enterprises, where she served as Head of Consumer Insights, overseeing all U.S. and international qualitative and quantitative research. Grant previously served as Leapfrog’s Director of International Marketing Research.  Fern holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Honors & Distinction from San Jose State University, and also a Master of Science in Occupational Psychology from Birbeck College at the University of London.

John Burbank,
President, Strategic Initiatives
The Nielsen Company




John Burbank oversees strategic initiatives for Nielsen. Appointed to this role in November 2010, John is responsible for leading Nielsen’s innovation and new business opportunities across online and e-commerce.  For two years prior to this role, John was CEO of Nielsen’s Online Division where he led the company’s global internet measurement business. During his tenure as CEO, John established strategic relationships with industry leaders such as Facebook, and continued Nielsen’s growth in key international markets. Prior to his Online role, John served as Chief Marketing Officer for Nielsen.  Prior to joining Nielsen, John was Chief Marketing Officer for AOL, and before that he served as Vice President Marketing at AT&T / Cingular where he led the company’s consumer growth segments and new media programs. For 10 years, John was employed by the Procter & Gamble Company where he pioneered online marketing and e-commerce activities on the Pampers brand. Earlier in his career, John worked for the Chicago Tribune Company.  He received a BA and MBA from the University of Chicago.

Anne Zybowski,
Director, Retail Insights,
Kantar Retail

Anne Zybowski, director, Retail Insights, leads all of Kantar Retail’s digital retailing research and insights. In addition to her focus on e-commerce and how digital is impacting the path-to-purchase and the bricks-and-mortar store, she is also involved in our apparel line of trade. Anne recently worked as the lead analyst on Target, Walmart, and Sears/Kmart. She is a presenter and trainer for Kantar Retail seminars, and has been featured in National Retail Federation and PLMA programs. Before joining Kantar Retail, Anne was a Vice President at Stern Stewart & Co. working as the lead project manager and consultant for a variety of retailers including JCPenney, Whole Foods Market, and Ahold.