Marketing & Innovation Summit

Jeremy K. Balkin is the multi-award winning author of two books, Investing with Impact: Why Finance is a Force for Good, and Millennialization of Everything: How to Win When Millennials Rule the World. He hosts a weekly vlog series on LinkedIn about innovation called Be The Change in 60 Seconds and his latest book was been named the 2018 Award Finalist in Leadership by the Book Excellence Awards and the 2017 Award Finalist in Management and Leadership by the Best Book Awards. Mr. Balkin also serves as Head of Innovation for HSBC Bank based in New York, where his team recently made history becoming the first major bank in the world to launch a social humanoid robot and wearable technology in a retail bank environment. He participates on the Samsung Council for Emerging Technology and was recently was named among the Top 19 Innovators in Digital Banking by LendIt USA. Mr. Balkin previously served as an adviser to The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, Australia's 29th Prime Minister, and as an executive with Macquarie Bank. In 2017, Jeremy K. Balkin was named one of the Top 35 Millennial Influencers in the USA by the NBT Movement in Washington D.C. and received the Advance Global Australian Award. Mr. Balkin has also received the UNSW Alumni Award for Achievement and been designated a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in Davos.

John Dillon, Denny’s Inc. ​Senior Vice President & ​Chief Brand Officer, is responsible for the brand and marketing direction of Denny’s Corporation, including the development and execution of brand and marketing strategies ​at the national, international and local market level​, brand positioning, advertising campaigns​, broadcast and digital/social media, strategic partnerships, multicultural engagement, consumer insights,​​ guest experience, retail development, social responsibility, customer relationship management, off-premise business and ​overall ​product/menu development.  John’s recent industry recognition includes Business Insider’s “Top 50 Innovative CMOs in the World”, Ad Age “Media Maven” and Nation’s Restaurant News “Power 50” list. Prior to
joining Denny’s, John ​​held multiple marketing leadership positions with​in various organizations, including within ​the National Basketball Association and 10 years with Yum! Brands, where he held multiple marketing leadership positions on the Pizza Hut brand.​

The last several years have been a period of significant brand revitalization for the Denny’s brand under John’s tenure and leadership. This work includes the identification and amplification of the brand’s America’s Diner positioning and “feeding people” brand purpose, improving or changing over 80% of Denny’s entrees over the past several years, the establishment of an industry-leading digital and social media voice, significant media plan evolution, breakthrough brand partnerships, elevation of the brand’s multicultural marketing focus, the reinvigoration of social responsibility efforts, and the introduction and aggressive system-wide rollout of the brand’s e-commerce initiative of Denny’s on Demand. Together with other members of Denny’s leadership team, brand partners, franchisees and operators these efforts have led to positive system-wide same-store sales growth for the last eight consecutive years.

Denny's is one of America's largest full-service family restaurant chains. With over 90% of domestic restaurants franchise-owned, the brand currently operates over 1,700 franchised, licensed and company-owned restaurants across the United States and 14 countries.

Leading commerce strategy, sales, marketing, and consulting teams for over 20 years, Russell has worked with hundreds of organizations in shaping go-to-market strategies and execution plans. With a passion for technology’s socio-economic impact, Russell is known for expertly fusing economics, strategy, humor, and leadership into a deeply relevant, and entertaining message.
Russell holds an MBA from NYU and a BS in Computer Science from SUNY Binghamton. His expertise in AI is continually reshaped as he “trains” his 8 and 4 year old sons.