Key people moves in the industry.
Connected TV technology firm Capablue has appointed Chris Alner (right) as commercial director. He is the former managing director of Massive Interactive. In his new role he will be responsible for the management of Capablue’s client relationships and future business developments.
Video distribution company Rightster has made two appointments to grow its content offering. Jonathan Bates joins as director of content and partnerships, he will lead the company’s efforts to help producers, talent, content owners and rights holders to increase the effectiveness of their brand both on and off YouTube. Bates was previously head of multiplatform video at ITV where he worked with broadcast and commercial teams to create video content for its key shows and commercial partners. Meanwhile, Ben Freeman has been named head of Rightster Studios working closely with the firm’s customers to create original programming. Freeman also joins from ITV where he was head of scripted ad sponsored multiplatform content.
Latitude Digital Marketing, part of the Callcredit Information Group, has named Richard Gregory (left) managing director, effective from November. Gregory joined Latitude in 2002 and held a number of roles, most recently COO. He now takes over as managing director from Alex Hoye who was appointed in 2008 and will leave the business to take the helm of the retail business he co-founded before joining Latitude – Faction Skis.
FremantleMedia has promoted Donna Wiffen to head of worldwide drama, with Claire Tavernier remaining head of FremantleMedia’s central new media division FMX, as part of a strategic separation to distinguish and heighten focus on the key areas of drama and digital. Both executives will be based in London and report to FremantleMedia’s CEO, Cecile Frot-Coutaz. Wiffen will support drama strategy and production around FremantleMedia’s global network, including the development, acquisition and rollout of all scripted formats. She was most recently SVP, production and network, worldwide drama at FremantleMedia, a role she held since 2009. Prior to this she was the head of drama production for FremantleMedia’s UK production arm. She has also held senior management positions with the BBCWW backed company Cliffhanger and Endemol.
Independent media planning and buying agency the7stars has appointed Susan Clarke (right) as head of digital. Clarke previously held the position of client activation director at MEC, where she oversaw a team of 44 media specialists and was responsible for media activation, client team management and commercial development of digital businesses across clients including Lloyd’s, Morrisons and Nintendo. In her new role, she will be responsible for the digital team, covering disciplines such as PPC, SEO, display, ad exchange, social, behavioural, VOD and viral campaigns.
Independent digital marketing agency Greenlight has appointed Warren Newbert (left) chief financial officer. He joins from his role as commercial and finance director BBC Studios and Post Production. Prior to joining the BBC in 2009, he was CFO at Gravity Media Group, an outside broadcast company that completed a management buy-out out of a listed plc and acquired businesses from ITV and Seven Network. He trained with Grant Thornton and spent four years with the corporate finance practice advising a number of entrepreneurial businesses on acquisitions and fund raising.
Social travel site Love Home Swap has added Sean Cornwell, ex-CEO of eHarmony International, to its senior team to drive international expansion. Cornwell’s appointment follows the recent announcement of travel and marketplace expert David Kelly as chairman of Love Home Swap. Kelly previously held senior roles at Amazon, Lastminute.com, eBay and myDeco.
Qsoft Consulting, which owns the Gaydar brands, has appointed Kevin Smith (right) chief marketing officuier to oversee all aspects of the business’ marketing communications. Smith will look to grow the brands internationally, focusing initially on the development of a global pricing strategy. Social media strategy development and the planned brand refreshes of Gaydar.co.uk and GaydarGirls.co.uk will also be key areas of activity over the next few months. To aid in these projects, Smith will be leading insight research to further understand the Gaydar customer in order to enhance the brand experience both on and offline. He previously worked with brands such as Westfield, Regatta and Selfridges, and has experience in leading strategic ideas into effective commercial executions.
Top Right Group, the events, information services and publishing company, has appointed Mandy Gradden chief financial officer, effective January 2013. She will be responsible for financial management of het group, as well as leading M&A activities and corporate governance. She will also manage the central finance and procurement teams and work closely with the CEOs and finance leaders within Top Right Group’s standalone operating companies.
Design agency Anthem Worldwide has appointed Mark Ringer (left) executive creative director. He is the former ECD of TBWA\Tequila Hong Kong. Anthem Worldwide is moving away from its position as a brand development and deployment agency specialising in packaging and point of sale to focus on turning packaging into the strategic lead for FMCG products.
Real time ad network Jemm Group has made a number of additions to its UK team. Brian O’Sullivan, previously managing of adpepper UK , director of EDR and co-founder of Mobsta joins Jemm Group as COO alongside a second new board member and CFO, David Lamb, who was previously finance director at Cyber Team. Martin Okach joins from Last.FM as global operations director; Caroline Hossack, previously of FOX Networks becomes head of publisher services and Michael Humphries joins as head of platform services from Blinkx. Jemm Mobile has also expanded with the senior role of head of business development being taken up by David Simms, assisted by Ryan O’Connell who joins as account executive.
