DMEXCO 2025, Day 2: Bold Moves and Clear Visions
The second day of #DMEXCO25 was all about bold ideas and clear strategies for the future. Whether on the big stages, in the networking zones, or during spontaneous conversations: “Be Bold. Move Forward.” truly came to life.
By the way: Don’t miss our recap of Day 1 of DMEXCO 2025!
Little Sleep, Lots of Input
After exciting booth parties and side events on the first DMEXCO evening – including a performance by Cologne rap legend Eko Fresh – some attendees were still sporting dark circles at the first morning sessions. But with summits, presentations, and fireside chats filling Day 2, the sparkle quickly returned to tired eyes. At the CMO Summit powered by Digiday and W&V, Olivier Krüger (CMO, Deutsche Lufthansa AG) emphasized the importance of trust as brand capital in an era of hypertransparency.
Specialized Knowledge for Professional Audiences
At the Creators’ Summit – supported by Social Match & VideoDays Festival – the spotlight was on creators, brands, and media. One highlight: the intersection of influencing, professional soccer, and new digital soccer formats. The radically fresh approaches of entertainment-first formats like the Kings League or Baller League are shaping soccer’s new (media) world.
In the session “Between the Stands and TikTok – Soccer’s New Era,” Benedikt Höwedes (Prime Video co-commentator, former pro soccer player and World Cup champion) shared experiences from his playing days, including how self-marketing first entered the locker rooms. Patrick Fischer (CEO, OneFootball GmbH) highlighted the opportunities these formats bring. He stressed that their uniqueness must be preserved: “The asset of the new leagues is flexibility and creativity. They need to keep that and not force it into a rigid mold. At the end of the day, it’s about unleashing creativity, trying new things, and not taking everything too seriously. If brands, league operators, and clubs embrace this, there’s huge potential.”
Innovation Impact on Organizations
In the bvik panel on the Center Stage “AI R(EVOLUTION) in B2B Marketing: Innovation Meets Organization,” moderator Christian Strohmayr (BEWEGT.content GmbH) spoke with Nils Bäumer (Managing Partner, DenkSinn GmbH), Stephan Karg (Senior Expert, New Experience Marketing, Bosch Rexroth AG), and Marc Hibschenberger (Head of Industry Marketing Germany, SAP Deutschland SE & Co. KG) about balancing technological progress with organizational adaptation. The panelists explored how companies can keep up with daily-changing opportunities, reduce team fears, and innovate processes. Nils Bäumer noted that “thinking outside the box” often means you’re still inside it. The challenge is to step out entirely: “When’s the best time to start with AI? Ideally, yesterday.”
Friends Instead of Followers
What sets Spotify apart from other platforms where users consume content? Spotify is with people without being intrusive – a daily companion. Yves Brunschwiler (Head of Sales, Central Europe, Spotify) explained why Spotify users aren’t called followers but friends. Being a fan, he said, is an active choice: “If you want to utilize Spotify for your brand best, you need to think like a fan and act like a creator who provides a unique experience for your brand.”
Sophie Passmann on Podcasts, Authenticity, and Social Media
A highlight for both attendees and crew: Sophie Passmann on the Media Stage. Together with Karin Kessler (Vice President Strategy & Content, Seven.One Audio) and Hanna Marahiel (Head of Production, Studio Bummens GmbH), she spoke about female reach, authenticity, and relevance. She explained why she prefers voicing ads in her own podcast and how pre-recording episodes can be beneficial—even if it means missing out on reacting to Taylor Swift’s new album or engagement news.
DMEXCO 2025: That Was Bold!
All that’s left to say is a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made DMEXCO 2025 an unforgettable experience—our visitors, exhibitors, and speakers.
A special thanks also goes to everyone behind the scenes who ensured everything ran smoothly: from the service center and organizing team to cleaning, IT, tech, photo and film crews, security, logistics, vendors, and Koelnmesse staff.
And last but not least: huge applause and standing ovations for our very own dream team—Christoph Werner, Jan Garnefeld, Thomas Mosch, Verena Gründel, and Eva Heintz—alongside our honorary partner, BVDW. You made DMEXCO 2025 what it is. It’s all about the team!
We’re already looking forward to the next DMEXCO on September 23–24, 2026 – save the date!
