MC CEO Joins Regional Leaders at MarTech North East Panel

Marriott Communications recently joined senior marketing and technology leaders from across the region at MarTech North East, a panel event held in Sunderland and organised by Hagan Consultancy.

The event brought together voices from PR, digital marketing, SEO, ecommerce and enterprise leadership to openly discuss the realities businesses face when navigating MarTech investment, implementation and innovation. While panelists acknowledged that the North East continues to face disparities in infrastructure, funding and access to cutting-edge tools compared to larger cities, the discussion was firmly rooted in opportunity rather than limitation.

Speakers emphasised that the region is building momentum through its people, skills base and growing digital capability, and that success does not require replicating London’s complex tech stacks. Instead, the panel highlighted the importance of clarity, purpose and leadership-led decision making when adopting new technology.

Key themes included the need for organisations to clearly understand why technology is being introduced before investing in platforms, the risks of over-engineering marketing systems, and the importance of training and support to ensure tools are used effectively. Panelists also discussed the growing risk of over-reliance on individual systems, stressing the need for contingency planning in an increasingly automated marketing landscape.

Samuel Marriott-Dowding, Founder and CEO of Marriott Communications, contributed to the discussion by sharing insight into the role of intelligence-led communications, strategic clarity and ethical adoption - reinforcing the importance of aligning technology with purpose, audience understanding and long-term impact.

The panel concluded with a shared view that collaboration, skills development and integrated thinking will be critical in positioning the North East as a credible, forward-thinking hub for digital innovation. Rather than chasing trends, speakers agreed the region has an opportunity to build MarTech strategies that are practical, sustainable and rooted in the needs of its businesses and communities.

MarTech North East forms part of a growing movement to strengthen the region’s digital ecosystem - championing thoughtful adoption, leadership confidence and long-term value over short-term gains.