New York, October 8, 2026 / PRNewswire / -- Rokt is a leading e-commerce company that uses machine learning and AI to make the shopping experience more personalized for each customer. This week, the company participated in 8 panel discussions at the 2026 Ad Week New York event (Advertising Week New York 2026, referred to as AWNY) held in The Penn District. Rokt executives exchanged ideas with leaders from industries such as retail, financial services, tourism, and media, discussing how to increase revenue, gain customer trust, and adapt to changes in the way people discover brands. Four of these discussions took place on the main stage in AWNY, while the other four were part of the on-site The Female Quotient Lounge activities.

Rokt Ads Senior Vice President and General Manager Jon Humphrey stated: "Companies hope to achieve revenue growth from the customer relationships they have painstakingly established, and this depends on making every interaction relevant to the customers. As AI changes the way people discover brands and make decisions, relevance becomes even more important. The opportunity lies in helping customers find what they value and giving them a reason to come back."

One of the most notable moments of the week occurred on Wednesday, when Humphrey and NHL, along with members of the Hall of Fame Wayne Gretzky and Fanatics, Inc, and the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Tucker Kain, took to the stage on Great Minds Stage to engage in a dialogue about leadership. This discussion followed Fanatics's recent decision to Rokt, providing global sports fans with AI-driven related services.

In other sessions, Rokt executives also exchanged ideas with executives from companies such as Lowe, Citi, Mastercard, e.l.f, Beauty, and American Airlines. Many discussions focused on how companies outside of the retail industry can establish commercial media businesses, while others revolved around how AI is increasingly influencing the places and ways people discover brands.

Rokt's discussion on the main stage of Advertising Week New York is as follows:

• "Beyond Brands: Building Partnerships Throughout the Ecosystem" ( Marketplace Stage, October 5th, Monday). The Senior Vice President of Retail Partnerships, Laura Cosgrove, and the Head of Ecosystem Cooperation, Lauren Copland, discussed the evolution of the partnership between Rokt and Afterpay, as well as how to expand it to a broader product portfolio that includes Square, Cash App, and TIDAL. The discussion was moderated by Arielle Feger, the Senior Analyst of Media Content.
• New Revenue Streams: How Much Is Customer Attention Really Worth? (Media Stage, October 6, Tuesday). Rokt, the person in charge of financial services collaboration, along with Media Network, the Vice President and General Manager of Lowe, and Dylan Lonergan, the Head of Sales at Citi Commerce Media, discussed what is required to establish such businesses after commercial media operations surpass retail sales. The event was moderated by Kerry Flynn, a media journalist.
• "Building a Decision Engine for Proxy Marketing" ( Innovation Stage, October 7th, Wednesday). As AI plays a larger role in media decision-making, Jon Humphrey from Rokt along with Olivia Kory, the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer of Haus, and Annie Leanse, the Senior Director of Subscription Acquisition and Brand Media Marketing at FOX One, discussed why attribution alone is not enough, and how incremental testing and experimentation can provide a basis for these decisions. The event was hosted by journalist James Hercher.
• Sliding in the direction the hockey puck is heading: The great man talks about leadership ( Great Minds Stage, October 7th, Wednesday). A conversation between Wayne Gretzky and Fanatics, as well as Tucker Kain and Rokt, reviews his decades of experience as a player, boss, coach, and broadcaster.

Rokt Executives also participated in the following discussions on Tuesday, October 6th, at Female Quotient Lounge of AWNY.

• "Trust Advantage: Why Confidence Wins." Rokt Vice President of Customer Success, Maggie Carney, along with Mastercard Commerce Media Executive Vice President, Nili Klenoff, Clinique Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, Christie Sclater, and Lyft Global Brand Executive Creative Director Cass Zawadowski, discussed how companies can gain credibility as AI changes the way people judge brands. The discussion was moderated by ADWEEK Chief Brand and Community Officer Jenny Rooney.
• "Discovering the Economy: Winning Before Search." Rokt, Vice President of Retail Customer Success, Allison Repetto and Southwest Airlines, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, as well as Carnival Cruise Line, Senior Director of Brand and Product Marketing, Diana Tomasetti, discuss how consumers today discover brands through AI assistants, creators, and communities before they even search. Hosted by Sonata Insights, founder and chief analyst. Debra Aho Williamson.
• "Cultural Gravity: Why Certain Ideas Are Attractive." Laura Cosgrove makes its comeback once again to discuss with e.l.f, Beauty (Chief Brand Officer), Laurie Lam, and Verizon (Senior Vice President of Media, Marketing Effectiveness, and Agency Management) why certain brands and ideas continue to attract audiences long after their release. The program is hosted by The Clios (Content Execution Director).
• Media Transformation: Following Audiences Everywhere. The head of retail partnerships, Rokt, discussed with the vice president of corporate business development, Lauren Gabriele, T-, Mobile Advertising Solutions, vice president Leslie Lee, and the global advertising managing director, Jacs Wyatt, how brands can reach audiences when their attention is spread across multiple platforms. The event was moderated by Cond, the vice president and head of global corporate innovation, Brittany Thompson.

About Rokt

Rokt is a global leader in e-commerce, delivering real-time relevance at the most critical moment – the transaction moment (The Transaction Moment ™). The AI Brain and Ecommerce Network of Rokt drive billions of transactions, connect hundreds of millions of customers, and have earned the trust of leading companies around the world, including Live Nation, Fanatics, Macy, AMC Theatres, PayPal, Uber, Hulu, Albertsons, and HelloFresh. Headquartered in New York City, it has offices in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information, please visit Rokt.com.

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