- Kevin Liles to Keynote Event; Recording Artist Jesse Boykins III to Perform -

(BLACK PR WIRE) NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BEN (Black Employee Network), an Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) business resource group (BRG), will host “Leveraging Black Music in the New Media Marketplace,” an eclectic evening of insight and discussion on the powerful influence of Black music in digital advertising and social media. The event will take place today, Thursday, June 30th from 6 to 8 PM at the Time & Life Building in New York. Attendees will include IPG employees, multicultural influencers, and clients. 

Kevin Liles, Founder and CEO of KWL Enterprises will keynote the event which will also feature a live performance by Jesse Boykins III, a panel discussion and a special presentation of a Nike social media case study. Nicole Cramer, SVP, Chief of Staff, McCann Worldwide, will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Panelists and presenters include:

•Chris Atlas, SVP, Marketing, Def Jam
•Andy Cohn, EVP, Group Publisher, FADER Media, Inc.
•Nigel Goodman, Producer, R/GA
•Denise Harrell, Account Manager, BET Digital Ad Sales
•Jason Hoff, Associate Creative Director, R/GA
•Andrew Kessler, Creative Director, HUGE
•Colin Kim, Associate Creative Director, R/GA
•Asten Morgan, Jr., Director, National Sales/Publisher, The Vibe Lifestyle Network 

“Interpublic’s Black Employee Network, like all of our BRGs, hosts a number of educational, provocative events throughout the year,” commented Heide Gardner, SVP, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Interpublic. “Our BRGs are part of a comprehensive and systemic program at IPG to encourage as inclusive a workplace as possible. We are especially excited about this event. It features an exciting combination of IPG talent and top media players who will focus on a topic that is both relevant and timely – the role of Black music on digital advertising and social media.”

To foster an inclusive work environment as well as to increase networking and business opportunities, IPG employees have activated cross-agency employee resource groups. These include the Black Employee Network, the Asian Heritage Group, the IPGLBT, SOMOS: Hispanic/Latino Heritage Group and the Women’s Leadership Network/WLN. Since their inception, the events that these groups have held have attracted more than 3,500 individuals.

About Interpublic

Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies. Diversity & Inclusion is a core element of IPG’s business strategy. We aspire to be one of the world’s most inclusive companies, channeling the full power of diversity for the growth and success of our clients and business partners, our people, the local communities in which we operate, and ultimately, our shareholders. Major global brands include Draftfcb, FutureBrand, GolinHarris International, HUGE, Initiative, Jack Morton Worldwide, Lowe + Partners, MAGNAGLOBAL, McCann Erickson, Momentum, MRM Worldwide, Octagon, R/GA, UM and Weber Shandwick. Leading domestic brands include Campbell Ewald; Campbell Mithun; Carmichael Lynch; Deutsch, a Lowe + Partners Company; Gotham Inc.; Hill Holliday; ID Media; Mullen and The Martin Agency. Multicultural agencies include Accentmarketing, The Axis Agency, Casanova Pendrill, IW Group and Siboney. For more information, please visit www.interpublic.com.