For many years, more than I
really care to admit, I’ve covered
the ebb and f low of marketing
and media, watching the industry
successfully navigate emergencies
of epic proportions, from 9/
to the 2003 Northeast blackout
and hurricanes. Each time,
advancements in technology
enabled us to better communicate
and serve our customers. Each
time, the show went on.
Now we’re facing our latest
challenge, the COVID-19 virus.
While events like SXSW, the NAB
Show, video game trade expo E3, and
a slew of NewFronts and Upfronts
presentations are being canceled
as we speak, platforms like Google
Hangout, Slack, Skype and Zoom are
presenting new opportunities for
businesses and clients alike.
One way or another, the show
will go on.
Here too, at Adweek, we’ve had
to adjust our schedule. Earlier this
month, more than 700 marketing
execs joined us at our second annual
Challenger Brands Summit in
New York. Since then, like other
companies, we’ve had to put a pin
in a couple of live events. Instead,
we’ll be offering our partners gearing
up for NewFronts and Upfronts a
virtual conference capability that
we’re calling Adweek Spotlight.It’s a customized, streamed event
in HD that will amplify network
presentations in conjunction with
editorial thought leadership.
The Adweek editorial team
remains committed to helping our
community do their jobs better,
and that means providing insight
and foresight on the virus’ business
implications in print and online,
which includes a regularly updated
events tracker (adweek.com/
coronavirus) and breaking-news
email alerts.
In addition to our ongoingCOVID-19 coverage, we remain
steadfast in our efforts to showcase
and celebrate innovations in media
and marketing.
For our cover, Adweek TV
editor Jason Lynch talks with Mr.
Robot creator Sam Esmail, who
will soon begin production on his
interpretation of Battlestar Galactica
for NBCUniversal’s Peacock
streaming service. Interestingly,
technology was always part of
Esmail’s life. In the early aughts,
he was an internet entrepreneur
(though his startup was tied to the
fate of AOL, so ...). Esmail speaks
to Lynch about his upcoming BSG
project and why he finds technology
both fascinating and “horrifying.”
In this issue, Adweek also presents
the winners of this year’s CMO
Vanguard Awards, honoring 30
data-driven, customer- and culture-
focused marketing execs like Deborah
Wahl, global CMO of General Motors,
who partnered with Amazon to
integrate Alexa into the Buick brand’s
driving experience, and San Francisco
49ers CMO Alex Chang, who
partnered with SAP’s Silicon Valley
office to enhance the fan experience
by tracking the journey from tickets
to concessions sales. It’s no surprise
Tim Mapes, svp, chief marketing and
communications officer of Delta Air
Lines, also made the list. Already,
Delta has been an excellent case study
in crisis management, with last week’s
reassuring letter to customers from
CEO Ed Bastian on how the airline has
prepared for what’s ahead.
Given the last-minute strategy
changes happening now because of
the virus, I’m quite certain next year’s
CMO Vanguard Award honorees will
have some mind-blowing customer
strategies and hacks to share. But let’s
hope we get back to business as usual
very soon. Until then, here’s to rising
to the occasion.EDITOR’S LETTER
Lisa Granatstein
Editor, svp, programming
@lgranatsteinADWEEK WILL CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO BEST
SERVE OUR MARKETING AND MEDIA COMMUNITY.ADWEEK® | MARCH 16, 2020 5
Mr. Robot creator
Sam Esmail, who will
remake Battlestar
Galactica for NBCU’s
Peacock, is fascinated
by the power of
technology.THE SHOW WILL GO ON
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