Amify,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.

eBay names Schenkel as temporary boss
Scott Schenkel has been chosen by eBay’s board of directors to take up the role of interim chief executive officer while they search for the company’s next permanent CEO from both internal and external candidates.

Schenkel, who most recently served as senior vice president, chief financial officer, replaces Devin Wenig. Wenig stepped down from his role as president, CEO, and director of the eCommerce giant last month after a reported disagreement with the board.

“eBay is an exciting and successful global marketplace that is powered by our amazing team, iconic brand and premier platform. In addition to our people who want to make a difference, our leadership has experience and fresh perspectives to build on our success,” said Schenkel. “As the board conducts a search, we will continue to focus on our strategic plan and product initiatives, while also ensuring a great customer experience and a smooth transition. eBay is well positioned to deliver enhanced value for our customers and shareholders alike.”

eBay also announced that Andy Cring, eBay’s vice president, global financial planning and analysis, has been appointed to serve as interim chief financial officer.

Fahy to head up marketing at Moonpig
Online personalised card retailer Moonpig has hired Kristof Fahy as chief marketing officer on the back of doubling its growth rate in the past 12 months.

Most recently, Fahy served as interim CMO at Checkatrade.com; chief customer officer at Hostelworld, where he was responsible for marketing, business planning, and customer operations; and chief customer officer at Ladbrokes/Coral, where he drove revenue and turnover growth across retail, online, and mobile.

Before Ladbrokes/Coral, he ran digital P&L, as well as customer analytics, at the Telegraph Media Group. And, prior to that, he was CMO at William Hill for over five years.

“Moonpig is a truly iconic British brand and I look forward to building on its unique proposition and proven market success in order to drive the business through its next stage of ambitious growth,” said Fahy.

Global’s DAX appoints Blackburn as EVP of sales
Chris Blackburn has been selected as executive vice president of sales and business development for DAX US, the US arm of Global’s digital audio advertising platform. Reporting to DAX US CEO Matt Cutair, he will be responsible for DAX’s US sales strategy and will lead the strategic sales division.

Blackburn joins DAX from SoundCloud, where he was responsible for overseeing and growing SoundCloud’s worldwide ad-sales business, in the role of the head of global sales and partnerships. Prior to SoundCloud, he was the lead of marketing and revenue at Grooveshark, where his role focused on developing the company’s eastern US ads strategy, in addition to growing multiple key revenue streams for the company spanning ads, data, and market research. Blackburn was also the co-founder of Art&Revel.

“Since its inception, DAX has firmly cemented its role in driving value for advertisers and publishers in every area of the digital audio space,” said Blackburn. “I’m thrilled to be joining DAX during this exciting time both for the company as well as the wider audio industry.”

Kim takes charge of finance at Impact
Impact, a partnership-focused tech company, has appointed Joo Mi Kim as its chief financial officer. Reporting to CEO David A. Yavanno, she will lead financial planning and analysis, accounting, global clearinghouse, human resources, legal, facilities as well as investor and board relations.

Kim brings over 15 years of combined experience in financial planning and operations, investor relations, investment banking, and economic consulting to the role. Most recently, she served as CFO of Aera Technology. Prior to Aera, she was vice president of financial planning & analysis and investor relations at Qualys.

“I am excited to join Impact’s growing leadership team,” said Kim. “I look forward to leading Impact’s financial operations and reporting as it matures to such an exciting stage of growth as the leading provider of partnership automation to enterprises worldwide.”

VaynerMedia brings Allison over from the States
Ben Allison has moved from VaynerMedia’s office in New York to the agency’s London office to take up the role of vice president of global media. His role is centred on growing the overall media offerings and capabilities that VaynerMedia provides through hiring, training, and strengthening of international partnerships, enabling global offices to provide a full-suite of services to clients and brands.

Allison worked at VaynerMedia in the US for over four years and has played a critical role in building their internal media training and education systems for entry-level university graduate talent. He has worked with a roster of clients across verticals, including Mondelez International, J.P. Morgan Chase, Anheuser-Busch InBev, PepsiCo, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Fila, Unilever, Inspire Brands and The National Hockey League. Prior to his time at VaynerMedia, Ben worked as a senior advertising manager for SocialCode.

“It has been a fantastic experience working at VaynerMedia in New York and I could not pass up the opportunity to join the expanding team in the UK,” said Allison. “The agency is continually evolving, listening to where consumer attention is headed, and crafting ways to disrupt the sector. I am really looking forward to working within a new market for VaynerMedia, to provide transparency, performance and partnership to our regional and global clients.”

Reese to manage creative at UM
UM, IPG Mediabrands’ full-service marketing and media agency, has appointed Dawn Reese as the senior vice president, managing director of UM Studios, the agency’s creative content unit.

Reporting to UM global chief content officer & head of UM Studios, Brendan Gaul, she will lead the UM Studios team and practice across all US offices, partnering with client business leaders to create strategic business plans and oversee creative content strategies that drive client business objectives. She will also focus on analysing key metrics to help teams implement solutions that will drive clients market share, revenue, brand affinity and more.

Reese formerly served as executive vice president of Client Studios at StyleHaul, where she oversaw sales and marketing across the US and UK. Before that, as an integrated executive director at Marie Claire, she executed on revenue-generating digital marketing campaigns and native advertising solutions. Reese has also held leadership positions at Condé Nast, InStyle and Time Inc.

“The UM Studios team is renowned for its ability to tell rich and authentic stories that drive tremendous value and ROI for clients,” said Reese. “Im thrilled to join this extraordinary team and look forward to delivering best-in-class content across all platforms.”

Adludio picks Pladzyk to lead tech
Piotr Pladzyk has been named head of technology at mobile advertising company Adludio. He has been hired to manage the development team so that they can ‘happily code their life away’ and come up with new technological solutions and ways of implementing them.

Pladzyk’s day-to-day responsibilities involve ensuring that product owners, developers and designers alike adhere to the agile values and principles that underpin our methodology of delivery.  

He comes from a background in web and app development, with his most recent previous role being head of programming a Vitamin London.

“Adludio has recruited Piotr Pladzyk for the role of head of technology at a very exciting time,” said Byron Plant, chief technology officer at Adludio. “Adludio is currently sitting in a prime position, ready for an evolution in the mobile advertising industry, having had a huge technology drive in recent months. In general, the mobile advertising industry is rapidly moving forward and so Adludio is embracing this by increasing their product platforms and talent pool.”

Pfefferkorn to lead UK sales at MainAd
Ad tech firm MainAd has hired Jeff Pfefferkorn as its head of sales UK. He will focus on expansion, providing customer-centric experiences for MainAd’s growing client base, and be directly involved in strategic development of the company’s product offering.

Pfefferkorn brings to MainAd more than 20 years’ experience working with media agencies, with knowledge of directing strategy, business development, sales, and marketing. His previous roles include business director at Spark Foundry and global business director at Starcom.

“I’m thrilled to join MainAd as head of sales UK at such a critical stage in the company’s growth,” commented Pfefferkorn. “I’m facing a fresh challenge of expanding MainAd’s presence in the UK market, and spreading the word about its disruptive technology – Logico. I’m looking forward to combining my knowledge of the UK market with this superb product that utilises machine learning and big data.”

Ogilvy appoints Kim to new global commerce position
Edward Kim has been handed the joint role of commerce leader for Ogilvy’s enterprise digital transformation capability and global principal of commerce strategy & solutions for Ogilvy Consulting. In the newly formed role, he will drive brand to commerce strategy for Ogilvy opportunities with current global clients and new prospects.

Kim will also partner with leaders collaborate across the full range of WPP Commerce assets including Salmon, Gorilla, Pierry, Emark and the WPP Amazon Center of Excellence to provide holistic commerce solutions.

He joins Ogilvy from Publicis Sapient, where he served as global strategy lead for the fashion & luxury retail vertical, as well as leader of global digital strategy and digital media partnerships for Samsung.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Ogilvy family and energized by the agencys belief in the power of brand, creative excellence and smart use of data and technology to help brands not only convert but connect with customers who experience brands in unforgettable ways,” said Kim. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to help increase Ogilvys share of the global commerce market and create new value for our clients.”

Davis and Slattery join OpenAP leadership
OpenAP, the advanced advertising company owned by Fox, NBCUniversal, and Viacom, has hired Ed Davis as chief product officer and Brittany Slattery as senior vice president, head of marketing & communications. Both will serve on the company’s executive leadership team and will report to CEO David Levy.

Davis, who will be based in the company’s Los Angeles office, joins from the Fox Networks Group (FNG), where he held the role of executive vice president and chief product officer for advertising and was responsible for leading advertising product strategy and development, as well as oversight of All City, FNG’s branded content studio. Prior to this, he was chief product officer at true[X], which was acquired by 21^st Century Fox in 2015, and has spent time at ESPN, The Walt Disney Company, and DIRECTV.

“By launching a first-of-its-kind marketplace that realises the power of data-driven linear, we are helping transform a business and industry by optimizing and standardising audiences across linear and digital in a way that advertisers and publishers have been needing for years,” said Davis. “This is the right time and the right place for OpenAP, and Im thrilled to be able to help build this company.”

Based out of New York City, Slattery will be responsible for building the companys brand and driving demand and reputation for its services, while working alongside its leadership to develop a distinct and engaging culture for its people.

She joins OpenAP from ComScore, where she served as head of marketing. Here, she oversaw all aspects of global marketing and led the team responsible for product marketing, brand, events, marketing operations, PR, thought leadership, and internal and external communications across the North & South America, Europe and APAC regions. Before ComScore, Slattery held senior roles at Interpublic Groups Huge Inc., as well as Publicis Groupe agencies SapientRazorfish, Razorfish Global and Rosetta (all now Publicis Sapient).

“OpenAP is the catalyst helping publishers and advertisers reach their consumers with premium content in a way that will ultimately help transform the viewing experience by delivering ads that are relevant, engaging and valuable to an audiences unique needs and preferences,” said Slattery. “Were reaching an inflection point for advanced TV, and under Davids leadership and the ongoing partnership of our members, significant gains continue to be made in audience-based advertising. Im humbled to be joining the company as steward of the OpenAP brand and culture during such a pivotal time for our industry.”

CreatorIQ turns to Zulawski as EMEA MD
Kam Zulawski has been recruited as managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at influencer marketing platform CreatorIQ. He will be responsible for EMEA growth and go-to-market efforts, including building on the recent $12 million investment from TVC Capital and Unilever Ventures in the company’s Enterprise Creator Cloud.

Zulawski joins the company with over 13 years’ global experience across the consulting, influencer marketing, social media, and PR spaces. He has previously held roles at Onalytica, Hootsuite, Cision, and Gartner.

“Influencer Marketing is emerging as one of the most exciting and disruptive marketing channels for companies to take advantage of,” said Zulawski. “CreatorIQ has the perfect combination of cutting-edge technology and a forward-thinking team, all of which play an important part in our mission to become the global leader in this field. Im thrilled to be joining the leadership team to help CreatorIQ in its next phase of growth.”

McNab and Ramos Bernard named Centro country managers
Ad tech firm Centro has hired Andy McNab as UK country manager and Manuel Ramos Bernard as Mexico country manager. Both will report to vice president of international Felipe Velasquez.

McNab’s focus will be on growing local and regional customer bases among agencies as well as further establishing sales teams in more countries over the next twelve months. He is also building service and operations teams to accompany Centro’s projected sales across Europe.

He previously served as senior advisor at MiQ and, before that, UK managing director at S4M. He was also managing director of UK, Australia, and Nordics for Rocket Fuel.

“Centro offers a novel solution for marketers, complementing a programmatic buying nucleus with automated workflow, reporting, finance and business intelligence,” said McNab. “In a European environment where GDPR is posing a challenge to advertisers, Basis gives access to the full scope of digital media capabilities beyond cookie-driven ad buying.”

Ramos Bernard is focusing on expanding both Basis (the company’s digital media platform) adoption and his sales team, while ensuring the success of an already sizable customer base in the region.

He joins from Logan, where he served in multiple roles including media buyer director, regional and Mexico sales director, and product and innovation director.

“Centro has planted solid roots in Latin America. We have an enormous opportunity as more and more people are accessing digital media content, which is generating ad spend for display, mobile and video,” said Ramos Bernard. “Basis is gaining traction because agencies want world-class programmatic advertising technology that weaves tightly with reporting and business intelligence for all major channels.”

Say It Now opts for Fitzpatrick as chairman
Brian Fitzpatrick has been chosen as chairman of Say It Now, a voice technology company where he is an angel investor.

Fitzpatrick has been involved in the development of digital media for almost 25 years and is currently general manager for Europe at Iponweb. His previous roles include managing director for the European business of Adap.tv before its acquisition by AOL and European managing director of the Media Innovation Group.

“Assistants are quickly becoming a key feature in many homes and the way people interact with them provides a unique challenge for brands,” said Fitzpatrick. “Say It Now solves this by focusing on conversational advertising, which, by empowering brands to tell their story changes the relationship between advertiser and customer, and conversational e-commerce that, while still in its infancy, we believe will replace web and app services for online bookings. In my role as chairman, I look forward to working with Charlie and Sander to develop and evolve this exciting area.”

Hoang and Byrd arrive at Amify
Amify, which develops marketing plans to help brands maximise sales on Amazon, has hired Anthony Hoang as chief technology officer and Samantha Byrd as chief people officer.

Hoang brings to Amify more than two decades of related technology experience. He has held posts with retail brands, including Target and Evereve, and most recently served as the chief innovation officer at CliqStudios.

“With nearly 200m consumers shopping on the platform each month, brands are finding that having an Amazon strategy is no longer just a smart business move, it’s a necessity,” said Hoang. “I’m looking forward to bringing my expertise to Amify to empower our team and clients with the technology required to provide data-driven insights about their brand on Amazon.”

Byrd arrives with more than 15 years of experience working in positions of leadership in HR and recruiting. She has led HR strategies for a number of technology companies, including Applied Predictive Technologies. Most recently, Samantha served as VP of human resources for Envision.

“As we ramp up talent acquisition, it’s critical that Amify’s growth is sustained by a capable and purpose-driven staff,” said Byrd. “I look forward to supporting Amify’s growing headcount by providing employees access to the resources needed to promote a fun, healthy and productive work environment”

WeAre8 puts McDonagh in charge on international expansion
Sam McDonagh has been appointed head of international at WeAre8, an app which enables brands to micro-sponsor individuals. He is responsible for launching the platform in key global markets, beginning with Australia, and growing local in-country teams.

McDonagh has over 25 years of experience in senior management roles at companies including eBay, Dollar Shave Club and, most recently, Airbnb, where he spent five years as country manager for Australia and New Zealand.

“WeAre8 is an incredible company that is quite simply changing the way brands connect with people, our people.  Working with WeAre8 and its stakeholders provides the unique opportunity to imagine a better way, to work with a wonderful formative team at an early stage and I couldnt be more excited to lead the companys efforts internationally. And weve only just started,” said McDonagh.

Merrens takes reins of marketing at Upgrade pack
Travel tech scaleup Upgrade Pack has chosen Deborah Merrens as its chief marketing officer. Reporting to group CEO Craig Unsworth, she will lead all marketing for Upgrade Pack’s closed marketplace app for travel upgrades, which connects airlines and hotels with its affluent user base who are looking to buy upgrades that could otherwise go unsold.

Merrens has worked for travel brands including British Airway, Hilton Group, Mastercard, Delta Airlines, and Global Blue. In her most recent role as head of global relationship marketing at British Airways, she was responsible for marketing to travellers across loyalty, digital communications, corporate and trade marketing, and VIP travellers.

“I’m delighted to be working with Craig again to deliver an innovative solution to a clear gap in the market,” commented Merrens. “I’m excited by the opportunity to bring such a transformative platform to travellers around the world, while generating revenue for our travel partners. It really is the ultimate win-win for our clients, partners and users alike.”

Crisp gets Stern on marketing
Michael Stern has been made chief marketing officer at Crisp, a social media safety provider for brands. Reporting to president Vikram Sharma, he will lead Crisp’s global marketing team, providing guidance and strategic oversight for integrated marketing efforts to demonstrate the value and urgency of crisis monitoring for brands around the world.

Most recently serving as a global business lead at Leo Burnett, Stern arrives at Crisp with more than 20 years of marketing experience working with technology, CPG, food and beverage, hospitality, personal care and retail brands. Prior to Leo Burnett, Stern started his career in public relations before serving on the executive teams of Omnicom’s social media and digital marketing agencies.

“In recent years, I’ve witnessed first-hand the rise of harmful social content and the negative effect it can have on today’s leading brands,” said Stern. “I was incredibly impressed with Crisp’s solution as well as its rapid expansion to Chicago in June. I’m excited to work with Vikram and the leadership team to demonstrate the value of Crisp’s services to global brands, and elevate our position within the marketplace.”

Alongside Stern’s arrival, Paul M. Rand, who is vice president of communications at The University of Chicago, has joined Crisp as an advisory board member.

Nicoll to front commerce at Liquid
Liquid Omnicommerce, an independent end-to-end retail consultancy, has hired Richard Nicoll as its chief commerce officer and managing director. He will play a strategic role in driving the growth of Liquid as a total omnicommerce enterprise in Asia, with a focus on enhancing the agency offering, structuring agency capability and striking the right balance and focus between online and offline shopper marketing. He will also focus on building partnerships to leverage data to create effective in-store shopper strategies for clients as well as meeting the aspirations of shoppers for more personal and tailored experiences.

Nicoll joins from Publicis Communications in Asia, where he was chief shopper marketing officer. He has also held leadership roles at Saatchi & Saatchi in London and Hong Kong. He was latterly responsible for building the regional shopper marketing capability for Publicis Communications (Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, Publicis WW) across Asia as well as leading the Groupe’s business with P&G in South China.

“It’s hugely exciting to be back in a region where shopping is so important and where communication at commerce is taken so seriously. And I’m delighted to join Liquid as they are the most exciting, fastest growing and truly omnicommerce agency I’ve come across anywhere in the past few years,” said Nicoll. “As the retail ecosystem expands here, the distinctive offering that Liquid brings – data driven understanding combined with creativity to solve business issues in retail – will definitely enable us to add more value to our clients and their customers.”