Chris Pereira - IFA 2026 Keynote

iMpact Founder and CEO Chris Pereira was invited by IFA to deliver a keynote, 'Marketing in a New Era: Signals from China, Opportunities for Europe' as part of the official events program in Expert Talks (Hall 26c).

Chris discussed what China's rapidly evolving business landscape can teach European companies about marketing, innovation and global growth. His central argument was that technology alone is no longer a lasting competitive advantage. While innovation and features can be copied, trust can only be built through relationships, local presence and consistent responsiveness.

Drawing on more than 20 years in China, Chris explored how Chinese brands are moving beyond product and price to build credibility overseas, why European brands can no longer rely on country-of-origin reputation in China, and how AI is shifting from selling point to infrastructure. As he put it, China has innovation and speed but needs trust, while Europe has trust and precision but needs innovation and speed.