Movers & Shakers: SpotX, Kargo, FCB, Jun Group, S4M and Twitch

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

(Clockwise from top left) Gavin Buxton, Arthur Cole, Madhu Malhan, Regina Guinto, Amir Shevat, Mark Weiler, Sara Clemens, Andy McNab, Adam Cohen Aslatei

Gavin Buxton appointed as SpotX Asia MD
Video ad serving platform SpotX has named Gavin Buxton as managing director of its Asian operations, with the former S4M APAC head taking the lead as the company aims to expand its cross-screen programmatic presence in the region. Based in Singapore, Buxton will focus on bringing SpotX’s advanced video ad serving technology to the area, with continued expansion in South East, South and North Asia.

Buxton has over 17 years’ global experience in the digital advertising space, having held leadership roles at tech and publishing companies including LinkedIn, Microsoft and Turner Broadcasting, with the last eight years spend based in Asia. He joins SpotX from mobile ad tech firm S4M, where he led the successful establishment and growth of the business across the Asia-Pacific region.

“I’m excited to join SpotX at such a pivotal time, given consumers’ rapid adoption of digital video in Asia across devices, as there is a huge opportunity for publishers and brands to gain greater value from the video ecosystem,” said Buxton. “Media owners throughout the Asian region have unique challenges and opportunities compared to their counterparts around the world, and I look forward to helping publishers in this region address their specific video advertising needs through SpotX’s advanced solutions.

“With so much competition for consumer attention, we see brands moving towards personalised messaging and addressable video advertising that is relevant for specific viewers across multiple screens in brand-safe environments. Drawing on SpotX’s global resources, strategic partnerships, and local service focus, I’m confident that we will make good inroads into the programmatic video and TV space this year.”

Three new members added to executive team at Kargo
Mobile image advertising leader Kargo has announced several executive promotions, elevating three of its leaders to play central roles in the company’s continued growth. Arthur Cole has been promoted to senior vice president of global operations; Lauren Hendricks has become senior vice president of global partnerships; and Neal Modi has been elevated to chief financial officer.

Cole joined the company in 2016 and was previously vice president of global revenue operations. As senior vice president of global operations, he will oversee the expansion of Kargo’s Technical Operations, Platform Operations, Revenue Operations, Sales Operations and Program Management teams, as well as directing larger company-wide internal initiatives.

Hendricks’ new role will place her in charge of overseeing strategy and operations for Kargo’s international publishing supply base. She was previously vice president of publisher partnerships, having joined Kargo in 2015. As chief financial officer, Modi will manage Kargo’s financial, accounting, business intelligence and legal operations. He joined the company in 2011, and has helped ensure the company has been not only self-funded, but also profitable during its growth. He most recently served as senior vice president of finance and business operations.

“Arthur, Lauren and Neal have each been uniquely instrumental in driving Kargo’s rapid growth over the last few years, including our expansion into new markets, new technology and products, and major partnerships,” said Ryan McConville, president and chief operating officer of Kargo. “With a number of exciting ventures already in the works for 2018, I’m fully confident they will perpetuate this powerful momentum by strengthening and expanding publisher partnerships, streamlining internal processes for Kargo’s nine officers around the world, and reinforcing Kargo’s impeccable brand reputation as we enter uncharted marketplaces.”

FCB reveals Madhu Malhan as new senior vice president and director of global creative services
Industry veteran Madhu Malhan has come onboard marketing communications agency FCB as its new senior vice president and director of global creative services. Malhan will lead the network in establishing innovative creative solutions for client partners around the world, reporting to FCB Global’s chief creative officer Susan Credle.

Born in India and raised in Africa and South America, Malhan brings a unique global perspective to the firm, in addition to her many years of experience. She began her career with the Ad Club of NY and has also held roles at Ogilvy & Mather and, most recently, Publicis USA, where she was senior vice president and director of creative culture. At FCB, she will partner with Credle to provide a strategic point of view and benchmark for the agency’s Global Creative Council, as well as helping to develop new creative programs, and tap the best creative resources.

“Madhu brings a wealth of experience and leadership to this position and will be critical to our success as we continue to elevate our creative portfolio, reputation and culture across the network,” said Credle. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Madhu over the years, primarily through the Ad Club of New York, sponsor of the International ANDY Awards, where she played a critical role in raising the prestige and profile of this show while working with top creative leaders from across the globe.”

Two new roles filled at Jun Group as company launches redesigned website
Cross-device ad platform firm Jun Group has promoted two of its employees to new roles as the company prepares for a year of strategic expansion. Adam Cohen Aslatei has been named as vice president of marketing, while Regina Guinto has been promoted to director of creative strategy. The company recently launched a new immersive website to champion its corporate ethos and provide increased support to clients.

Guinto has worked for the Jun Group since 2013, progressing from account coordinator to marketing strategist, to her most recent role as associate director of creative strategy. Her new position will see her work closely with the firm’s clients, including Coca-Cola, BP, Allstate and Arm & Hammer, as well as its publisher partners, which include GQ, Vanity Fair, People and NBC. Guinto previously worked at Spotify and fashion brand Elizabeth Gillett.

Cohen Aslatei’s new role comes following two years at the firm, during which he spearheaded the company’s fireside chat series, building a content studio in-house and filming over 60 chats in 2017. His new role will expand on his existing responsibilities to include business partnerships and more direct support of the sales team. He has previously held roles at Altman Vilandrie & Company, and MeetMe (formerly mYearbook).

S4M unveils new managing director for the UK
Andy McNab is to become the first UK managing director at mobile advertising platform S4M, leading the firm’s activities in the UK with a strong focus on driving sales growth in the region and managing its growing team. An industry veteran, McNab has nearly two decades of experience in the digital advertising space.

“I am delighted to be joining the company and leading the fast-growing team in London,” said McNab. “S4M has a breakthrough technology for marketers with ongoing innovation; it will be an exciting challenge to make sure the company stands out in a very competitive business environment.”

Prior to joining S4M, McNab led Rocket Fuel’s growth in the UK for over six years, having started as managing director before being promoted to vice president for UK, Australia and the Nordics. He has also held the position of agency director at AOL for four years, and spent nearly a decade as sales manager at MSN. He is the winner of an IPA Media Owner Award, and was named Commercial Director of the Year in 2014.

Clemens, Weiler and Shevat head to Twitch to strengthen executive team
Amazon-owned social video service Twitch has announced three new hires which aim to reflect the firm’s commitment to the needs of its community by investing in growth across multiple departments. Sara Clemens joins as chief operating officer, while Mark Weiler has been named senior vice president, head of platforms & services, and Amir Shevat becomes vice president of developer experience.

“Twitch has continued to grow at an amazing rate,” said Emmett Shear, CEO of Twitch. “With out focus on listening to our community and providing the products and services to fuel their success, it’s important that we continue to invest in a leadership team that will ensure we are bringing these things to market in a timely and effective manner. To that end, Sara Clemens, Mark Weiler and Amir Shevat are all recognised leaders in their respective fields and extend Twitch’s role as a leader in social video.”

Clemens boasts over 20 years of leadership experience in broadcast, technology and entertainment. She most recently served as chief operating officer of Pandora, during which time she was placed on Billboard’s Most Powerful Women in Music list in 2015 and 2016. Prior to Pandora, she was a member of LinkedIn’s executive team, and led product and partnerships at Xbox.

Weiler brings over 25 years of software engineering expertise to Twitch, having worked at Microsoft, Ampush and, most recently, Rubicon Project, where he was senior vice president and head of engineering. Shevat comes to Twitch with 15 years in the industry building developer tools and services. He was previously head of developer relations at Slack, and had an extensive career at Google, including being the global startup outreach lead at Google Play.