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.

Jules Kendrick named as CEO of JICWEBS
The Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards (JICWEBS) has unveiled Jules Kendrick as its CEO, a newly created role at the cross-industry committee that helps define standards and best practice for digital advertising. Over the past 12 months, JICWEBS has grown exponentially and now boasts over 130 signatories, and is working closely with the Trustworth Accountability Group (TAG) in the US.
Kendrick brings a wealth of commercial, technology and media expertise from roles at Mumsnet.com, Amazon UK, Guardian & Observer, IDG, and most recently Business Insider, where she was client director for UK & EMEA. With her expertise in strategic partnerships, she is perfectly positioned to further develop JICWEBS’ relationship with TAG, which will be central to tackling ad fraud in two of the world’s biggest digital advertising markets.
“I’m excited to join JICWEBS at such an important time, both for the business and the industry,” said Kendrick. “I’m looking forward to working with our team and our stakeholders to build on the great achievements already made towards ensuring our digital ad industry raises standards to create greater trust and transparency for our advertisers.”
“We knew at the outset of this process that we were looking for an outstanding candidate – and I am delighted to say we found her,” said Jon Mew, CEO of IAB UK. “Jules’ impressive track record and commercial, technology and media experience made our decision both easy and unanimous.”
HR platform HiBob finds new managing director
Joel Farrow is joining transformative HR platform HiBob as managing director, where he will spearhead the firm’s UK and European expansion. He comes to the company following five years at SAP, having previously led both SuccessFactors and Concur in the UK, and will lead HiBob’s 45-strong UK & Europe team.
The three-year-old company, which has gained more than 300 fast-growing clients around the world, has raised $25m (£19m) and has strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Aviva. It aims to reinvent the entirety of the HR experience, using insight, data and personalisation to change the way management and HR departments interact with employees – as well as the way individuals and teams connect with their employer and with each other.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Farrow. “HiBob is brilliantly solving a multitude of problems that I’ve encountered during my career in HR and enterprise sales. It is a young company, growing in high pace, one with fresh ideas and a robust product and technology infrastructure. Finally the day-to-day tasks of HR are brought together with active employee engagement – not lip-service sales speak. It’s complete, adjustable, and a joy to use.”
“It’s an extraordinary affirmation that someone with Joel’s extensive technology and HR experience has decided to lead HiBob in the UK and Europe,” said Ronni Zehavi, co-founder and CEO of HiBob. “He is passionate about HiBob’s mission to create a vibrant new role for HR in a world where it is essential to create environments which are ‘recipes for retention’ – those that motivate, inspire, connect and reward.”
Appetite Creative attracts four key hires
Creative technology company Appetite Creative has revealed four key hires including Julia Smith, who will be joining the management team as PR & communications director. In addition to this strategic senior hire, the firm has expanded its team to include Jay Blanco Fernandez as studio manager, Monika Sumska as creative manager and Nina Pylypenko to lead the marketing and new business team. Appetite Creative has worked with clients including Armani Hotels, Disney, Mercedes, British Airways, Audi and more. The expansion of the team is in response to the significant increase in clients that it has won over the last 12 months.
Smith has held major commercial roles at firms including Associated Newspapers, The Mirror Group Newspapers, Dennis Publishing and IAB across her 20-plus years of experience in the industry, most recently providing consulting services for Impact, Tug and The 614 Group. She will implement a high visibility communications strategy to increase the brand awareness of the business, working directly with the Appetite Creative management team.
Jay Blanco Fernandez will oversee the digital studio and client projects, bringing over eight years of experience from companies including Melia and Marriott Hotels. Monika Sumska will be part of the design team, leading user experience efforts with creative input on all client web page builds, and Nina Pylypenko, who joins from Spot A Home, will lead marketing and new business efforts from the firm’s Madrid office.
“The appointment of Julia, Jay, Nina and Monika demonstrates our commitment to servicing brands with an experienced and talents team” said Jenny Stanley, managing director at Appetite Creative. “We’re thrilled to welcome all four onto a team that is committed to delivering cutting-edge, innovative creative solutions for brands, agencies and media owners.”
Daniel McLaren hired as head of digital at SQN
Communications specialist Sine Que Non (SQN) has appointed Daniel McLaren in the newly-established role of head of digital, as the agency accelerates its digital and social media capability to meet growing demand. Founded in 2001, SQN has expanded its offering and presence over the past 12 months with a renewed focus on the automotive, sport and technology sectors from offices in Henley-on-Thames and Derby, and has experienced strong growth both in the UK and internationally.
McLaren’s agency experience has covered Carat, We Are Social, Cast Digital, Pulse Innovations and AMVBBDO, in addition to his development of the Digital Sport brand, which was recently acquired by Snack Media. In his role as head of digital, he will help SQN strengthen its capabilities in the digital space while exploring new opportunities for existing and prospective clients.
“I have been aware of SQN for many years; our paths have crossed numerous times through my work at Digital Sport,” said McLaren. “I am honoured to join the team as head of digital and to lead the continued development of the agency’s digital portfolio. With an impressive pedigree and client portfolio, it is clear that I am joining a knowledgeable, resilient and thriving agency.”
Social Chain Group announces MD for North America
Oliver Yonchev has been promoted by Social Chain Group, becoming managing director of the firm’s US operations to build on the phenomenal growth the company has seen in 2018. As managing director, he will oversee the development of the Social Chain Group’s North American business, spearheading the company’s plans to open three additional US offices whilst leading the New York headquarters.
Yonchev previously served as global business director at Social Chain, and was responsible for the commercial growth of the agency, while overseeing the Client Service and Project Delivery departments in the UK. Under his leadership, the agency achieved consecutive 100 per cent year-on-year growth, and executed global social and creative strategies for brands including Amazon, Coca-Cola, FIFA and Warner.
“I have had the pleasure of working at The Social Chain Group in the UK and being part of a team that has seen tremendous growth, the execution of award-winning campaigns and industry-firsts,” said Yonchev. “I am now thrilled to further my responsibility within the company and be an instrumental force for the company’s US expansion.”
Andreas Koenig becomes new chairman for Uberall
Location marketing leader Uberall has elected Andreas Koenig, former CEO of TeamViewer, as the company’s new chairman of the board of directors. Koenig has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the technology sector, having held a number of executive and board positions over his career, including as CEO of Swisscom IT Services and general manager EMEA at NetApp.
“We are delighted to welcome Andreas to Uberall,” said Florian Huebner, co-CEO of Uberall. “Andreas is a strategic thinker with a proven track record of driving change and transforming businesses. Already having scaled a start-up company to a multi-billion dollar organisation, he will be a tremendous asset to Uberall as we continue to expand our global presence in the high-growth location marketing technology space.”
“I am thrilled to be joining Uberall at such an exciting time in the global growth,” said Koenig. “Local marketing is a $150bn sector, and Uberall’s ever-innovating technology is driving them to the forefront of the segment. Uberall’s recent acquisition of Navads and extension of Series B funding to $50m puts Uberall in pole position. I have the greatest respect for Uberall’s dynamic leadership team, and I’m honoured to be joining their board.”