STN Video unveils its newest innovation leveraging tech capabilities of new parent Minute Media, offering publishers the most robust online video platform (OVP) in the industry

STN Video, a leading global online video platform for publishers, has announced a major enhancement to its Online Video Platform (OVP). This updated product marks the first significant release since STN Video’s acquisition by Minute Media in January. The new STN OVP integrates STN’s exclusive video library with Minute Media’s advanced technology, offering publishers a robust solution for monetizing and optimizing digital video content.

1. Overview of the Enhanced STN OVP:

• Integration with Minute Media: Combines STN Video’s premium sports and entertainment content with Minute Media’s technological capabilities.
• Content Library: Includes exclusive video from over 250 sports content providers like the NFL, MLB, and NBA, and prominent news and entertainment sources such as Conde Nast, Reuters, Bloomberg, and Fortune.

2. Key Features:

• STN Smart Match®: AI tool for contextual relevance, matching video content with article editorial to enhance user experience.
• Publisher Tools: Allows publishers to ingest their own content and demand sources, providing flexibility and control.

3. Revenue and Performance:

• Enhanced Revenue Opportunities: The STN OVP has shown a 43% revenue increase in recent implementations, including across Sports Illustrated’s MLB and NFL sections.
• Premium User Experience: The platform delivers high-quality content and user engagement, contributing to significant revenue growth.

4. Industry Impact:

• Contextual Relevance: STN’s commitment to ensuring that video content matches article content improves user experience and boosts publisher revenue.
• Adaptability: Designed to help publishers navigate changing industry regulations and initiatives effectively.

5. Partner Statements:

• Tom Webster, GM of Video and SSP at Minute Media: Highlights the significant revenue performance improvements and the broad content offering available through the STN OVP.
• Brian Ernst, Head of Business Development at Fortune: Emphasizes the added revenue stream and enhanced user experience provided by incorporating STN’s video technology.

The enhanced STN OVP represents a significant advancement in digital video platforms, combining exclusive content from major sports and entertainment brands with cutting-edge AI tools. This update not only offers publishers a powerful way to optimize their video content but also drives increased revenue and improves user engagement. With its comprehensive features and proven performance, the STN OVP is set to redefine digital video management for publishers worldwide.

New CRO and SVP Bring Deep Experience in Advertising, Agencies and Brands

illumin Holdings Inc., a leading journey advertising technology company, has announced the addition of two key leaders to its executive team. Liz Ritzcovan joins as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), and Bridget Westerholz steps in as Senior Vice President of Marketing (SVP). Both appointments are effective as of August 2024 and are set to drive illumin's global growth and innovation.

1. New Chief Revenue Officer – Liz Ritzcovan:

• Liz Ritzcovan appointed as Chief Revenue Officer in August 2024.
• Will oversee global sales, account management, and customer support.
• Previous roles include CRO at Hustle, Namagoo, Foursquare, Bazaarvoice, Sizmek, and Parade Media Group.
• Held senior leadership roles in marketing solutions and client services at Yahoo Inc. and Time Inc.
• Based in Connecticut, bringing extensive experience in advertising and marketing.

2. Liz Ritzcovan’s Vision for illumin:

• Excited to drive future growth and go-to-market transformation.
• Focus on empowering brands and agencies to connect with the right customers across various mediums.
• Committed to enhancing customer service and delivering impactful results.

3. New Senior Vice President of Marketing – Bridget Westerholz:

• Bridget Westerholz appointed as SVP of Marketing in August 2024.
• Will lead global marketing efforts, leveraging experience with agencies and brands.
• Former VP of Marketing at SPUD, where she rebuilt brand strategy and product marketing plans.
• Also served as VP of Marketing and Sales for Happy Planet Foods.
• Extensive leadership experience in advertising agencies, including FUSE Create and DDB Canada.

4. Bridget Westerholz’s Perspective:

• Enthusiastic about joining illumin and contributing to its innovative and dynamic team.
• Passionate about storytelling and data-driven strategies.
• Aims to understand customer needs and elevate the illumin brand.

5. CEO Simon Cairns’ Comments:

• Simon Cairns, CEO of illumin, expresses excitement about the new leadership additions.
• Emphasizes the focus on supporting agency and brand customers for success with illumin.

The appointments of Liz Ritzcovan as Chief Revenue Officer and Bridget Westerholz as Senior Vice President of Marketing mark a significant milestone for illumin as it continues to expand and innovate. Their combined expertise in advertising, marketing, and leadership is set to strengthen illumin’s market presence and drive sustained growth.

Apiable Oy, an API portal platform, has been accepted into the AWS ISV Accelerate Program. This program helps software vendors that integrate with AWS to grow by connecting them with the AWS Sales Organization. This milestone shows Apiable's dedication to delivering innovative API solutions and working closely with AWS. By joining the program, Apiable gains access to co-sell support, technical enablement, and go-to-market resources. Apiable's API portals allow users to create, secure, market, and monetize APIs easily. The integration with Amazon API Gateway helps customers launch API portals quickly and securely, and monetize them using services like Stripe. Allan Knabe, CEO of Apiable, expressed excitement about the program, highlighting its alignment with Apiable's mission to simplify API onboarding. The program offers joint selling opportunities, technical enablement, and go-to-market support. Overall, this partnership is set to boost Apiable's market presence and enhance its technical capabilities, driving further innovation and growth.

Apiable Oy, a leader in API portal solutions, has proudly joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Accelerate Program. This program is designed to help ISVs drive new business and accelerate sales cycles by connecting them with AWS's extensive sales network. Apiable’s inclusion in the program highlights its dedication to advancing API technology and leveraging AWS's capabilities to foster innovation and growth.

1. Overview of the AWS ISV Accelerate Program:

• Purpose and Benefits: The AWS ISV Accelerate Program supports ISVs by providing co-sell support, technical enablement, and go-to-market resources.
• Apiable’s Role: Apiable will leverage these resources to enhance its API portal platform and expand its market reach.

2. Apiable’s API Portal Platform:

• Features: Apiable’s platform allows organizations to create, secure, market, and monetize API products efficiently.
• Integration with Amazon API Gateway: Enables AWS customers to launch an API portal quickly, within an hour, and secure it with standards like OAuth 2.0.

3. Program Benefits for Apiable:

• Joint Selling Opportunities: Collaborates with AWS sales teams to access new customer bases and boost sales.
• Technical Enablement: Receives advanced training and support to enhance its platform's capabilities.
• Go-to-Market Support: Utilizes AWS resources and strategies to effectively market and increase adoption of its solutions.

4. Apiable’s API Management Solutions:

• API Discoverability and Onboarding: Simplifies the process of finding and integrating APIs.
• Monetization and Analytics: Features usage-based billing and Unified API Analytics for insightful data on API product adoption.

5. Executive Statements:

• Allan Knabe, CEO and Co-founder of Apiable: Expresses enthusiasm about the partnership and its alignment with Apiable’s mission to simplify API onboarding and deliver enhanced value to customers.

Joining the AWS ISV Accelerate Program marks a pivotal development for Apiable Oy, reinforcing its commitment to advancing API integration solutions. With AWS’s support, Apiable is well-positioned to accelerate growth, enhance its technical capabilities, and deliver comprehensive API management solutions to a global audience.

Semrush, a leading SaaS platform for online visibility management, has announced the appointment of Veronique Montreuil as Chief Customer and Data Officer. With over 20 years of experience in customer success and experience, Veronique is set to strengthen customer relationships and drive growth.

1. New Appointment – Veronique Montreuil:

• Veronique Montreuil joins Semrush as Chief Customer and Data Officer.
• Brings extensive experience in customer success and experience.
• Will enhance customer relationships and support growth initiatives.

2. Previous Experience and Achievements:

• Most recently served as Head of Technology Sales and Customer Success at Covetrus.
• Led a team of 275, focusing on operational efficiency and customer value.
• Previous roles at INAP, Flexential, and Air Canada.

3. Role and Responsibilities at Semrush:

• Will lead efforts to improve customer satisfaction, retention, and overall experience.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, product development, and data analytics teams.
• Aim to support Semrush’s ambitious growth plans.

4. CEO’s Endorsement:

• Oleg Shchegolev, CEO and Co-Founder of Semrush, expresses enthusiasm about Veronique’s addition.
• Highlights Veronique’s role in reinforcing Semrush’s customer-focused approach.

5. Veronique’s Vision:

• Excited to join a company known for its commitment to customer satisfaction.
• Focus on driving growth and delivering lifetime value and satisfaction to customers.

The appointment of Veronique Montreuil as Chief Customer and Data Officer marks a significant step for Semrush in its commitment to enhancing customer experience and driving growth. Her extensive background and strategic vision are expected to contribute greatly to Semrush’s continued success.

AI expert will advise on Zendesk industry-leading AI offerings

Zendesk, a leader in AI-driven customer experience solutions, has appointed Lila Tretikov to its Board of Directors. Tretikov, currently Partner and Head of AI Strategy at NEA and former Deputy CTO at Microsoft, will bring her extensive expertise in AI and technology to Zendesk’s board.

1. New Board Appointment – Lila Tretikov:

• Lila Tretikov joins Zendesk’s Board of Directors.
• Her appointment aligns with Zendesk's focus on delivering powerful AI-driven customer experience solutions.
• Brings a wealth of experience in AI, technology, and diverse governance.

2. Professional Background:

• Currently Partner and Head of AI Strategy at NEA.
• Former Deputy CTO at Microsoft.
• Experienced in founding and scaling companies, including roles in web media, retail banking, global energy partnerships, and venture capital.
• Extensive governance experience on international public and private boards.

3. Zendesk’s AI and Customer Experience Strategy:

• Zendesk’s AI solutions are designed to enhance human connection and service experience.
• The company emphasizes quality assurance and workforce engagement in its AI products.
• Lila’s expertise will contribute to advancing Zendesk’s AI capabilities and customer trust.

4. CEO’s Endorsement:

• Tom Eggemeier, CEO of Zendesk, highlights Lila’s strategic and customer-centric approach.
• Emphasizes her role in navigating AI growth and enhancing Zendesk’s mission to deliver exceptional service.

5. Lila Tretikov’s Vision and Remarks:

• Excited to contribute to Zendesk’s efforts in elevating customer experience.
• Praises Zendesk’s responsible AI approach and its vast CX dataset.
• Looks forward to helping businesses leverage AI for improved customer interactions.

6. Additional Roles and Recognitions:

• Advisor on innovation to the United Nations.
• Independent director on the boards of Volvo Cars, Xylem, and Sophia Genetics.
• World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women.

Lila Tretikov’s appointment to Zendesk’s Board of Directors represents a strategic enhancement of the company’s leadership. Her deep expertise in AI and technology is expected to drive further innovation and excellence in Zendesk’s customer experience solutions.

Veritone and AWS to drive AI and cloud innovation across media, entertainment, sports, talent acquisition and public sectors

Veritone, Inc., a leader in human-centered enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, has announced a three-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This collaboration aims to leverage the unique strengths of both companies to drive innovation in cloud-native and generative AI solutions across media, entertainment, sports, talent acquisition, and public sectors.

1. Strategic Collaboration Agreement:

• Veritone and AWS have signed a three-year SCA.
• Partnership focuses on accelerating AI and cloud-native solutions for diverse industries.
• Aims to help businesses leverage scalable AI and cloud technologies effectively.

2. Benefits of the Collaboration:

• Combines Veritone’s AI solutions with AWS’s robust cloud infrastructure.
• Provides scalable, high-performance AI solutions for transformative business outcomes.
• Offers consulting services to aid businesses in their AI and cloud transformation.

3. Veritone’s AI Solutions:

• Powered by aiWARE™, Veritone’s enterprise AI platform.
• Utilizes hundreds of AI engines across various cognitive categories.
• Includes solutions like Veritone Digital Media Hub and Intelligent Digital Evidence Management System (iDEMS).
• aiWARE enables real-time processing and analysis, leveraging generative AI models for dynamic content creation.

4. Integration and Support:

• Veritone's solutions are integrated with AWS, enhancing scalability and performance.
• aiWARE powered by Amazon Bedrock for advanced cloud capabilities.
• Provides tailored consulting, strategy development, and AI application support.

5. AWS Partnership and Contributions:

• Veritone is a founding member of AWS Generative AI Center of Excellence.
• Active participant in AWS Machine Learning Blog and responsible AI partner initiatives.
• Recently designated as an AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner.
• Offers solutions available in AWS Marketplace for media, entertainment, and public sectors.

6. CEO’s Statement:

• Ryan Steelberg, Veritone’s CEO, emphasizes the importance of the collaboration for cloud-native transformation.
• Highlights the benefits of combining AWS’s cloud infrastructure with Veritone’s AI solutions.

The Strategic Collaboration Agreement between Veritone and AWS marks a significant step in advancing AI and cloud technologies. By integrating Veritone’s innovative AI solutions with AWS’s robust cloud infrastructure, the partnership aims to drive transformative business outcomes and support customers in their digital transformation journeys.

Native BigQuery integration enables direct data access and real-time customer activation

MessageGears, a leading data activation and engagement platform for enterprise brands, has achieved the Google Cloud Ready - BigQuery Designation. This milestone signifies a native integration with Google Cloud’s BigQuery, allowing marketers to harness the power of their data directly within BigQuery’s environment.

1. Google Cloud Ready - BigQuery Designation:

• MessageGears has achieved the Google Cloud Ready - BigQuery designation.
• The integration allows direct access to data within BigQuery.
• Aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional Customer Data Platforms (CDPs).

2. Benefits of Integration:

• Advanced Segmentation: Utilize BigQuery’s analytics capabilities for detailed customer segments.
• Cross-Channel Campaigns: Execute and coordinate campaigns across multiple channels using BigQuery data.
• Real-Time Personalization: Tailor messages and offers based on real-time customer interactions and behaviors.
• Data Privacy and Security: Keep Personally Identifiable Information (PII) secure within the BigQuery environment.
• Extensibility Across Tech Stack: Benefit from a wide range of Google Cloud technologies.

3. Strategic Impact:

• Supports enterprises in building a composable CDP centered around BigQuery.
• Enables real-time data access without duplication or movement of data.
• Enhances collaboration between marketing and IT teams, reducing workloads and improving alignment.

4. Market Trends:

• Gartner® reports increasing enterprise adoption of cloud-based data warehouses.
• 70% of enterprises have deployed a cloud-based data warehouse; 16% are in the process.

5. Customer Success Stories:

• Enterprises like Expedia, Chewy, and KAYAK use MessageGears for comprehensive customer engagement.
• The platform enables brands to understand and engage customers throughout their journey.

6. CEO's Statement:

• Caroline Nash, Director of Partnerships at MessageGears, highlights the importance of real-time data access for creating successful marketing campaigns.

The Google Cloud Ready - BigQuery Designation underscores MessageGears’ commitment to providing innovative solutions for data activation and customer engagement. By integrating with BigQuery, MessageGears offers enterprise brands a powerful tool for leveraging real-time data to drive effective marketing strategies and enhance customer experiences.

Advanced technology enables advertisers to drive reach and connections across the music video network’s premium inventory, especially on CTV

Nexxen, a leading global advertising technology platform specializing in video and Connected TV (CTV), has announced a strategic partnership with Vevo, the world's foremost music video network. This collaboration aims to amplify Vevo’s programmatic footprint, providing advertisers with expanded access to Vevo’s premium CTV inventory.

1. Partnership Overview:

• Nexxen and Vevo Collaboration: Nexxen's supply-side platform (SSP) partners with Vevo to enhance programmatic advertising efforts.
• Expanded Access: Vevo’s inventory, including over 900,000 music videos, becomes more accessible to a wider range of advertisers.

2. Vevo’s Inventory and Reach:

• Extensive Library: Vevo’s collection includes 900,000+ music videos.
• Global Reach: Vevo garners approximately 25 billion views monthly across platforms like YouTube, the Vevo TV app, and FAST channels.

3. Benefits of the Partnership:

• Enhanced Programmatic Monetization: Nexxen's SSP boosts Vevo’s programmatic revenue through improved audience targeting and increased demand.
• Comprehensive Deal Capabilities: Offers direct relationships and self-service tools for advertisers.
• Expanded Audience Reach: Increases the scale of Nexxen’s quality content and enhances inventory value for Vevo.

4. Strategic Statements:

• John Rogers, Nexxen: Highlights the value of adding Vevo to Nexxen’s premium publishing partners, emphasizing the expanded reach and content quality.
• Rob Christensen, Vevo: Describes how the partnership opens up Vevo’s ad inventory to new buyers and drives programmatic business growth.

5. Market Impact:

• Programmatic Growth: Collaboration supports the growing trend of programmatic advertising in the CTV space.
• Advertiser Opportunities: Provides new opportunities for advertisers to engage with Vevo’s high-quality video content.

The partnership between Nexxen and Vevo marks a significant step forward in enhancing programmatic advertising capabilities and expanding access to premium CTV inventory. By leveraging Nexxen’s technology and Vevo’s extensive music video library, both companies aim to drive growth, improve audience targeting, and deliver valuable advertising solutions.