Michael
Stich

Partner, Court Avenue

What Happens When Engagement Gets Smarter? A Real Look at AI in Marketing

AI is fundamentally changing how brands connect with people. This session will explore how leading companies are using AI to deepen human touch through more relevant content, smarter customer care, and dynamic, adaptive experiences across the entire customer journey.

For more than 25 years Michael and his teams have helped executives understand and capitalize on innovation. Michael currently serves as Partner at CourtAvenue, overseeing Clients and Capabilities. He works closely with clients such as Kia, Epson, General Mills, US Air Force, Dell, AT&T and Elanco to understand their latest marketing challenges, and develops custom solutions to address them. He is also an advisor, board member and investor in various startups.

Prior to joining CA in 2020, Michael served as the WPP Global Client Leader for Dell Technologies, and as Chief Business Officer for VMLY&R. In these roles, Michael worked closely with C-Suite clients across all aspects of marketing: brand, media, commerce, loyalty, martech, data and organizational design. He also served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Innovation Officer for Rockfish, where he helped structure and scale it into one of the largest digital agencies in the US. During that time, he grew and created new capabilities for some of the world’s most forward-thinking companies, including Ford, Walmart, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Sam’s Club.

Prior to Rockfish, Michael served in senior marketing, strategy and venture capital roles for Bridge Worldwide (now WundermanThompson), Texas Instruments, McKinsey and Dell. He helped launch the first $999 multimedia PC, the Windows 2000 desktop for Dell, the integrated xDSL/802.11n/VoIP broadband gateway, and multiple consumer web and mobile innovations.

Michael serves as a frequent speaker and writer on a variety of digital marketing topics, including marketing frameworks, ecommerce, AI, search, analytics, Customer experiences, and startups. He was recognized as a Cincinnati Marketing Legend by the American Marketing Association, and the COO winner of the C-suite Awards by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

Michael is a happy husband and father of four, an adviser to Fortune 50's and startups alike, and loves to play guitar in rock cover bands and at church on Sundays.