Movers & Shakers: SpotX, Y&R, Kargo, Adform and RKCR/Y&R

The mobile marketing industry is ever-changing, and that applies to the people as much as the technology. Movers & Shakers is a regular feature following the hottest hires in the industry, so you can keep track of whos joined which company, and what theyre doing there.

(Clockwise from left) David Guy,
(Clockwise from left): David Guy, Daniel Pownall, Martin Wolf, Edward Romaine, Emily James, Oliver Whitten, Jay Stevens

SpotX Expands European Presence with Hires, Promotions and New Office
Video inventory platform management firm SpotX has responded to growing demand for its services in Europe with the opening of a new office in Belfast, creating 20 new jobs for software engineers, and the appointment of David Guy to work with agencies, trading desks and advertisers across the UK and southern Europe.

Joining from Tremor, Guy will help improve the reach and effectiveness of cross-screen video ad campaigns by activating programmatic video buying strategies for clients, and aiding publishers in leveraging the SpotX platform to monetise their content across mobile, desktop and connected TVs.

In addition, Katherine McHugh, who joined SpotX in 2013 from IgnitionOne has been promoted to director of demand facilitation for the UK and southern Europe. She will work with Guy to maximise the effectiveness of campaigns for both advertisers and agencies, and drive up revenues for publishers, broadcasters and app developers.

“As the number of premium publishers and broadcasters using the SpotX platform has grown, so has the need to facilitate demand,” said Alex Merwin, vice president of global programmatic demand at SpotX. “Our activation of private marketplaces and curated marketplaces on behalf of these publishers has progressed to a point where we need a team to focus on operations and optimisation with demand-side platforms, trading desks, agencies and advertisers.”

Y&R Brings in New Leadership Team for Labstore Europe Unit
Marketing and communications firm Y&R has revealed the new leadership team who will drive network integration and acceleration growth, following the companys rapid expansion of its Labstore Europe shopper marketing business.

Daniel Pownall, founder of creative boutique Mr. Nice, has been appointed to the new role of executive creative director of Labstore Europe, while Martin Wolf, previously Labstores strategy chief in Vienna, will become managing director of Labstore Europe.

The appointments follow the launch of six Labstore Europe offices in the last six months in Budapest, Lisbon, Moscow, Paris, Prague and Vienna. Pownall will be responsible for coordinating all creative activity for Labstore across Europe, working to build Labstores Madrid agency into a shopper design and communication hub for other offices. Meanwhile, Wolf, who will continue to operator out of Labstore Vienna, will be responsible for the strategic and business development of Labstore Europe in nine countries.

“The Labstore shopper and retail offering is seamlessly woven into our broader Y&R Europe network, to deliver integrated solutions to meet our clients business needs,” said Andrew Dimitriou, president of Y&R Europe. “The new leadership will continue to drive brand experience management along the path to purchase for a perfect chemistry between brands, shoppers, consumers and retailers.”

Edward Romaine Joins Kargo as Chief Marketing Officer
Mobile brand advertising company Kargo has announced Edward Romaine as its new chief marketing officer. Romaine joins from Condé Nast, where he served as associate publisher for W magazine and, most recently, GQ.

Romain brings to Kargo over a decade of experience in sales and marketing for premium publishers, including Hearst, Bauer Media Group, Warner Music Group and Condé Nast. As chief marketing officer, he will lead Kargos existing marketing organisations and manage its sales, marketing success and research departments.

“Coming from the publisher side of the business, I am well acquainted with the value of consumers that frequently engage with high quality editorial content – thats what makes Kargo so unique in the marketplace and why Im thrilled to be joining such an accomplished organisation.”

Adform Adds Two to Management Team for Global Expansion
Jay Stevens and Oliver Whitten have joined Adforms executive team, service as chief revenue officer and chief operating officer, respectively, as the ad tech company prepares to expand its global presence.

Prior to joining Adform, Stevens served as general manager for international at Rubicon Project, where he successfully built and managed the companys expansion efforts outside the US. As chief revenue officer, he will help drive global revenue across all Adforms markets, including Europe, the US, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Whitten also currently works at Rubicon Project as senior vice president and managing director for EMEA, where he leads a team of over 80 staff and oversees revenues for 20 markets. As chief operating officer, he will help Adform scale global commercial operations, leading the business in Europe as well as managing business development, operations and global client services.

RKCR/Y&R Completes Management Line-up with Emily James
Emily James has been promoted to chief strategy officer, filling out the senior management triumvirate at integrated ad agency RKCR/Y&R. She previously served as head of strategy at the firm, and has worked for the agency for over 10 years, creating award-winning campaigns for brands including M&S, Virgin Atlantic and the BBC.

She joins CEO Jon Sharpe and newly appointed chief creative officer Jonathan Burley on the agencys executive management team, where she will oversee and lead the strategic vision for the agency.

“Emily has a proven track record of effectiveness as evidenced by her multiple IPA Effectiveness Golds and Silvers,” said Sharpe. “She has an uncanny understanding of human behaviour, is truly entrepreneurial and innovative in her strategic thinking and has played a pivotal role in our recent run of new business wins.”

Don’t forget to enter the Effective Mobile Marketing Awards. The Early Bird deadline for submissions is 22 July. More details here.