Richard Demato

Global Head of Strategy & Operations, AI Lab
Google

Richard has spent his entire 25 year career leading innovation & transformation across industries and functions, with a focus the past 10 years on Marketing Technology and AI.

Most recently, Richard helped launch and is now the Global Head of Strategy & Operations for the AI Lab, an AI solutions incubator that is building & piloting new tools and ways of working to accelerate the AI-driven transformation of Google Marketing.

Previously, he was Head of User Intelligence & Engagement in Google's Marketing Technology & Engineering organization, leading the team architecting a central MarTech stack for all of Google Marketing. He was also a Global Transformation Lead in Google Cloud's Customer Value & Transformation Advisory org, helping Google Cloud’s largest customers ($500M-$1B+ partnerships) apply 10x thinking to reimagine what's possible for their customers, their organization, and the world.

Before Google, he was West Coast GM & Head of Transformation at Simon Data, a Series C, SaaS Customer Data Platform (CDP) and Gartner Cool Vendor. To help customers accelerate complex transformation initiatives, he also conceived, launched, and managed an invite-only CxO community roundtable series, co-hosted by Google’s Global VP of Marketing.

Before that, he was a CxO & co-founder of multiple agencies and consultancies where he secured, designed, and led complex marketing, strategy, innovation, digital transformation, culture, and change management engagements for Global 500s, top brands, and high-growth startups.

He is also a keynote speaker & moderator at industry conferences and client executive summits, with his work and insights featured in Fast Company, Forbes, MarTech Today, and GOOD Magazine. In 2014, he was named one of GOOD Magazine’s "GOOD 100", highlighting 100 “global citizens and creative changemakers who are moving the world forward.”

Richard Demato’s Session

8:00 a.m.–8:45 a.m. PT — Friday, November 14, 2025

AI Adoption in Marketing: Building the Case for Investment and Buy-In

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape every facet of marketing, leaders are under growing pressure to move beyond experimentation and deliver measurable business impact. But how do you make the case for meaningful AI investment—especially when teams are skeptical, budgets are tight, or ROI feels elusive?

In this candid conversation, marketing and technology leaders from Google, Microsoft, and Brainchild, moderated by First Advantage’s Katelyn Brower, will explore what it really takes to gain buy-in for AI-driven transformation. Panelists will discuss the biggest mindset shifts they’ve seen in how executives approach AI, share examples of quick wins that built confidence, and outline strategies to connect innovation with tangible outcomes.

You’ll learn how organizations are:

  • Measuring the ROI of AI initiatives and proving value to leadership
  • Balancing short-term experimentation with long-term strategic investment
  • Overcoming internal resistance and building cross-functional alignment
  • Scaling content creation with AI while preserving authenticity and brand voice

Whether you’re just starting to explore AI tools or leading adoption across teams, this session will offer practical frameworks and success stories to help you turn curiosity into confident action.

Check out our early bird ticket prices!
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