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April 2026 - Newsletter 
   
     
   

Spring has officially arrived here in the UK – and with it, a renewed sense of possibility for independent agencies.


The Indie Summit 2026 brought fresh perspectives, sharper thinking, and a hopeful outlook for the future of our industry. Across two days in Bangkok, one sentiment came through loud and clear: this is a moment of real opportunity for independent agencies.


But this wasn’t a space for self‑congratulation. Far from it. The focus was on practical learning, honest conversations, and what to do next – from navigating AI and shifting valuations to redefining creativity and understanding global client expectations.


Scroll down for the full review: what happened, what you missed, and what you might need to know as we move forward together.

     

thenetworkone Events:
     

WHAT A SUCCESS: The Indie Summit 2026


The Indie Summit 2026 in Bangkok brought together independent agency leaders from around the world for three days of honest conversation and practical insight.


Conversations were energising, thought-provoking, and deeply relevant. This year's Indie Summit reinforced that while the industry is changing rapidly, independent agencies are uniquely positioned to lead that change – if they are willing to rethink, adapt, and act.


Most of all, it was a reminder that in an increasingly automated world, the real advantage remains human.


We are so thankful to everyone that came, it was a truly memorable celebration of independents and the spirit of thenetworkone's community.

See some highlights below. 


And read the full review here:

     

Indie Summit Highlights

The Welcome Cocktail:

On the beautiful rooftop of the Lebua overlooking the entirety of Bangkok, the welcome cocktails was an evening with traditional Thai dancers, incredible food, and even fireworks lighting up the Bangkok skyline. 

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Day 1 at a Glance:

Day 1 set the tone with a strong sense of momentum. 

There was a noticeable energy in the room, with delegates actively questioning, challenging, and building on each discussion. This wasn’t passive listening; it felt like a collective working session on the future of the industry.

Key Themes:

  • Opportunity in Change: Julian Boulding, founder of thenetworkone set the scene, showing the scale of industry shifts and the potential for independent agencies to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
  • Investors Eye Agility: George Kypraios highlighted how investors are prioritising agile, adaptable, and experiential agencies over traditional models, signaling that flexibility and innovation are key differentiators.
  • AI in Action: Jules Love delivered a hands-on workshop, giving delegates tools to build their own AI assistants, demonstrating that practical application of AI gives agencies a competitive edge.
  • Rethinking Value: Kathryn Williams and Dan Egerton challenged time-based billing models, showing that agencies can capture more value by monetising expertise, intellectual property, and outcomes.
  • People as the Ultimate Differentiator: Kimberly Afonso, Viviana Žorž, and Sarah Clay emphasised that authentic voices, aligned values, and engaged employees drive trust, connection, and sustainable growth.

The Curated Dinner Experience

Four groups set off to elegant settings – some overlooking the river, others high above the city on Bangkok’s iconic rooftops. Conversations were intimate, honest, and focused on what truly mattered, with everyone given the space to be heard.


These moments captured the essence of the Indie Summit: a community built not just on ideas, but on relationships. Like every year, it was a truly special experience.

DAY 2 at A Glance

Day 2 shifted the focus outward, exploring the external forces reshaping the industry and how agencies can respond to complex, fast-moving markets. 

Delegates were engaged throughout, asking questions, debating ideas, and leaving with both inspiration and tangible takeaways.

Themes:

  • Navigating complex markets: insights from Nicky Wang and Ben Condit on Shanghai and Xavier Prabhu on India highlighted how different markets are evolving at extraordinary speed, emphasising the need for local insight and adaptability.
  • Creativity and cultural relevance: Bolor Narantsatsralt shared how Pizza Hut Mongolia became a culturally relevant, Gen Z-driven brand through bold thinking, product innovation, and audience insight, showing the power of connecting with people where they are.
  • Human connection in the age of AI: speakers including Guan Hin Tay and Ted Lim reinforced that while technology can generate content, the real premium lies in originality, judgment, and emotional engagement.
  • Audience participation over broadcasting: sessions on brand experiences and communities, including Calvin Innes on fandoms, highlighted the shift from talking at audiences to genuinely engaging with them.

The conference was filled with lively roundtable conversations and engaging discussions, where ideas were debated, insights shared, and connections deepened.Thank you to all our delegates for attending The Indie Summit 2026! 


Thank you to all our speakers


Day 1:



Day 2:



Thank you to all our Sponsors

     

Spikes Asia 2026 

We had an amazing time at Spikes Asia this year. It was a real celebration of creativity and you could feel the power of the independent agency community in talent and presence.


During the festival, thenetworkone hosted Creative Connections & Conversations, an informal evening designed to bring people together away from the main buzz... and it did exactly that! The room was full of energy, great conversations, and meaningful new connections.


A big thank you to our brilliant partners who made it happen alongside us:

The Marketing Society

Spikes Asia

Verve


There was a fantastic welcome from Melanie Speet and her team, and a great atmosphere throughout, especially at the drinks reception. 


Beyond the event itself, it was inspiring to hear perspectives from across the industry — including conversations with members of Campaign Asia, who shared how independent agencies are increasingly seen as where the momentum lies.


And, as always, Singapore proved itself as a key hub for the APAC region — bringing together diverse markets and voices in one place.


An unforgettable few days of connection, creativity, and community!

     

ADFEST 

Arriving straight from the Indie Summit in Bangkok, the thenetworkone community carried that same energy into ADFEST 2026 in Pattaya and it was incredible to continue the conversations, reconnect, and meet so many inspiring people from across the global creative community.


Under this year’s “Human+” theme, a clear message came through: while AI is reshaping the landscape, its human insight, cultural understanding, and emotional connection that truly drive impactful work. That sentiment echoed throughout the festival, from the stage to the many informal conversations happening in between.


A particular highlight for thenetworkone... Julian introduced “Pizzas to Mongolia” with Pizza Hut Mongolia CMO Bolor Narantsatsralt: a true story of extraordinary marketing creativity, that brought a new experience, a love for pizza, to a country which still has no McDonalds!


The momentum from thenetworkone’s Indie Summit carried through strongly, too - from the engaging and practical workshop led bySarah Clay on building authentic engagement through LinkedIn, to the inspiring keynote from Ravid Kuperberg exploring the power of behavioural insight in shaping meaningful connections. This continued seamlessly at ADFEST, where Ted Lim andAndreas Moellmann - also part of the Indie Summit - built on those themes, challenging agencies to rethink their positioning by shifting the focus from pricing to clearly defining and holding their value.

     

Indie Forum and Cannes Lions 2026
 22nd-26th June, Cannes, France

Exciting Announcement!


We are delighted to be hosting The Indie Forum on the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd June at Le Club MSQ, located at Fervor, 5 Rue des Frères Casanova, 06400 Cannes.


In partnership with MSQ, we will be hosting the event at their space - Le Club MSQ. It will be a relaxed and considered atmosphere to create the perfect setting for meaningful conversation, fresh thinking, and genuine connection. 


Back for another year, The Indie Forum will bring together leading voices from independent agencies for a series of lively panel discussions tackling some of the industry’s most provocative and pressing topics. We’ll then round things off with a relaxed happy hour—perfect for drinks, networking, and continuing the conversation.


Provisional timing: 3:30pm – 5:30pm


If you would like to join us, please let us know and we will be happy to add you to the guestlist. We would love to see you there!

     

SAMY X Thenetworkone Social-First Trend Report

Joint initiative with thenetworkone and Kurio (Now part of SAMY), a member of thenetworkone. 


Social media marketing evolves in 2026 to an ever more all-encompassing and sales-driving part of the media mix, states our new report. Trends predictions by 22 agencies from thenetworkone, the world’s leading independent agency network, were compiled into a 90-page report to help marketers make the most of the changing media landscape.

     

thenetworkone New Members

Warm welcome to The Brill Building to thenetworkone! 

A leading independent creative agency founded in Dublin in 2019, The Brill Building brings a bold, creative-led approach to brand building, uniting world-class talent across strategy, innovation, and storytelling to deliver impactful, award-winning work. With a mission to rethink how agencies operate, they combine agility, collaboration, and big ideas to drive real cultural and commercial impact. Believing that scale is no barrier to ambition, they create competitive advantage for brands whose aspirations outpace their budgets, offering expertise across brand, strategy, creative, production, activation, social, and PR.

Warm welcome to Superhumans in The Network One membership programme! As a vibrant creative agency, Superhumans brings bold integrated communication expertise from Rome and Milan, inspiring meaningful stories that make everyone feel superhuman, elevating ideas and connections across every campaign.

We also warmly welcome to Project Worldwide to thenetworkone! 

Founded in 2010, Project Worldwide is a global network built on a unique “creative alliance” model—uniting a diverse collective of independent agencies across strategy, creative, experiential, and communications. With a collaborative, flexible approach at its core, they combine global scale with entrepreneurial thinking to deliver impactful work that drives cultural relevance and business growth for ambitious brands. 
     

thenetworkone Community News

Mediaplus x The Media Shop


Great news from the thenetworkone network as Mediaplus and The Media Shop join forces to launch Mediaplus Singapore. This exciting joint venture strengthens Mediaplus’ footprint in Southeast Asia while combining global data-driven expertise with deep regional insight, creating a powerful new hub to support clients across the region. We’re proud to see both agencies collaborating on this milestone and wish them every success in this next chapter!

     

Calvin Innes - Fandoms

Calvin Innes was one of the amazing speakers this year at The Indie Summit in Bangkok.

His work looks at an increasingly important angle: fandoms, brand opportunity, and how to authentically enter fandom spaces. 


He has since been sharing tailored case study packs with attendees of the Indie Summit in areas including finance, PR, celebrity, philanthropy, gaming, sneaker culture, and streetwear.


Would you be interested in finding out more? 

If you are interested in a quick chat or call, Calvin would be happy to share case studies to specific areas, he is already having interesting conversations and would be keen to help you too -  please get in touch!

     

Opportunity for 2026: international employee exchange

A fantastic opportunity to connect across the world, gain fresh perspectives, and give members of your team a truly global experience. If you are interested or think this could be a good opportunity for you or your employers, or want to learn more, please get in touch...

     

Have any announcements or news you want to share with the rest of thenetworkone community? Please send it however small to alfie.buisson@thenetworkone.com or maddie.pluck@thenetworkone.com.

     

If you or your agency have a Thought Piece to share please contact maddie.pluck@thenetworkone.com

   
   
   

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