Ian Schafer

Ian is the Founder and Chairman of Deep Focus, an award-winning global digitally led creative agency, and one of the industry's leading voices and provocateurs on digital media. Ian has been at the forefront of advertising since 1997 and founded Deep Focus in 2002. The agency is lauded for its expertise and excellence in digitally led creative execution and media strategy, innovative agency operational models and consumer insights. Ian previously served as Vice President of New Media at Disney’s Miramax Films. In 2007, he was named an Advertising Age Media Maven and was inducted into the AAF Advertising Hall of Achievement in 2015.

Ian Schafer, CEO and Founder of Deep Focus (a part of Engine USA), is one of advertising¹s most influential voices in digital marketing and social media. Prior to founding Deep Focus in 2002, Ian was Vice President of the New Media division of Miramax Films. Deep Focus is the digital agency for the social age, boasting a client roster that includes some of the biggest global brands in the Pepsico, Pernod Ricard, Nestlé, and Purina portfolios. Under Ian¹s guidance, Deep Focus has been lauded for its expertise and excellence at using digital media, technology, creative, and communications strategies to create engaging, value-driven experiences that get people talking. The Emmy® Award-winning firm has been responsible for many memorable, award-winning efforts over the years including AMC¹s MadMenYourself and has been the recipient of numerous distinctions, including several IAB & Webby Awards and a Cannes Gold Lion. In 2011, Deep Focus also launched the Moment Studio, a creative newsroom for branded content. Named a "Media Maven" by Advertising Age and one of Adweek¹s "Young Ones," and "Best CEO Social Media Presence" by the Shorty Awards, Ian has been featured in Wired, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Adweek, Advertising Age, USA Today, New York Magazine, Variety, CNN, Fortune and The Hollywood Reporter. Ian also sits on the executive board of the Social Media Advertising Consortium, the Global Advisory Board of Global Social Media Week, and is a co-founder of the Technology, Advertising & Startup Council.