Fyllo|Semasio, the leading provider of contextual targeting solutions, announced today that Jeff Ragovin has been elevated from President to CEO. At the same time, Ragovin announced that the company has begun migrating its entire portfolio of audience taxonomy data into privacy-compliant contextual segments via its Semasio targeting platform, which advertisers can use to drive performance in a post-cookie environment. The transition is currently underway and should be fully complete in Q1 2024.

With the transition, Fyllo laid out its vision of Semasio and contextual advertising as the future of privacy-compliant performance while reengineering how the company does business. The new contextual audiences will be available through Semasio across all major distribution platforms, including The Trade Desk, Adform and Infillion.

“Infillion is pleased to further our partnership with Semasio following our acquisition and relaunch of the MediaMath platform. Reintroducing Semasio to the MediaMath DSP is a key step in Infillion’s strategy,” said Rob Emrich, founder and executive chair, Infillion. “Our five-plus year collaboration with Semasio underscores their significant impact, particularly in advanced contextual and keyword targeting. This partnership not only elevates our platform but also positions us at the forefront of audience targeting in the evolving, cookieless digital landscape.”

“Serving as CEO of Fyllo during our transition to purely contextual performance represents the culmination of my journey with this pioneering, one-of-a-kind company,” Ragovin said. “By transitioning Fyllo’s audience taxonomy into Semasio-led fully contextual taxonomies, we're providing our clients and partners the opportunity to embrace a hybrid strategy before cookies fully deprecate. The entire digital ad ecosystem is looking at foundational disruption in 2024 that will transform how they do business, and contextual advertising promises to be the new paradigm.”

Centered on elevating culture and talent development, Johnson's hire signals a new phase of strategic growth for the company and its employees

Nexxen, a global, unified advertising technology platform with deep expertise in video and Connected TV ("CTV"), today announced the appointment of Gretchen Johnson as Chief People Officer. In the role, Johnson will lead Nexxen’s Human Resources and Talent Acquisition teams, focusing on culture and employee development to ensure the company continues to hire and retain best-in-class talent.

Previously, Johnson served as Chief People Officer at Siprocal, a gaming distribution, monetization and engagement platform. She also holds prior experience in the advertising technology sphere, as Senior Vice President, Human Resources Director at Aegis Media, acquired by Dentsu; and Vice President and Group Director of Talent Management at Digitas, the integrated marketing services brand within Publicis Groupe.

"We are thrilled to welcome Gretchen Johnson to our team,” said Ofer Druker, Chief Executive Officer at Nexxen. “The breadth and depth of her knowledge in orchestrating high-value human resources initiatives will enable us to align our people and organization with our commercial strategy and execution. Nexxen is the sum of our most valuable assets – our people – and through culture and employee development, Gretchen will help usher our organization into a new stage of growth.”

"This is an exciting time to join Nexxen, with its customer-centric culture where both talent and innovation thrive,” said Gretchen Johnson, Chief People Officer at Nexxen. “I look forward to working closely with the teams here to ensure these values are elevated through strategic HR initiatives.”

Paycom Software, Inc. , a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, announced today the appointment of Steve Sturges to the role of chief marketing officer (CMO).

“Steve brings three decades of experience in marketing, branding and advertising to our team. I’m excited to see him continue to elevate our innovative brand, engage our clients and drive further demand generation for our salesforce,” said Paycom founder, chairman and CEO, Chad Richison.

As Paycom’s chief marketing officer, Sturges will lead strategy, development and execution across all marketing and communication functions, while driving lead-generation efforts and enhancing Paycom’s brand equity for stakeholders.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Paycom and lead such a talented marketing team,” Sturges said. “I’m stepping into this role ready to innovate and continue to highlight a premier brand and one of the best products in the HR tech space.”

Sturges has spent more than 35 years promoting some of the most influential and successful brands in the country. He co-founded Oklahoma City-based VI Marketing and Branding in 1992 and served as a partner and creative consultant for Paycom for more than 15 years.

ID.me continues its market leadership, with an unprecedented number of Americans who can access services across the internet with a single, verified, and portable log-in credential.

ID.me, the market-leading secure digital identity network, announced today it has reached a major milestone with 50 million users verified to the federal standards for consumer authentication, NIST Identity Assurance Level 2. This market adoption marks a transformation for customer experience tied to login and identity verification.  

Once users have created an ID.me login and verified their identity, they are fast-tracked to easily access services across hundreds of government, private sector, and non-profit organizations. Similar to payment wallets, ID.me's identity wallet allows registered users to simply login and consent to release their previously verified identity to access services at multiple agencies. This approach dramatically reduces user friction while providing important security benefits.

Blake Hall, founder and CEO of ID.me, notes that ID.me's growth is a reflection of ID.me's longstanding commitment to putting consumers at the center of the digital identity ecosystem.

"The real value of a reusable, portable credential with ID.me is that we shift control back to the consumer by stripping away the friction consumers were forced to endure because of multiple logins and a frustrating inventory of passwords," said Hall. "The verified ID.me user has access to the internet's digital fast lane. ID.me verification is designed so that it is the last login an individual ever has to create and the last identity verification event they have to perform."

ID.me's 50 million users are verified at the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2). These credentials are portable and reusable through ID.me's Multi-Factor Authentication capabilities which are certified at NIST Authenticator Assurance Level 2 (AAL2). Federal and state government agencies, healthcare organizations, and businesses adhere to NIST for compliance purposes and to securely authenticate user identities. ID.me is the only digital identity verification provider that meets the NIST standard while offering portable and reusable identities to streamline access along with omnichannel enrollment options for first-time identity verification.

Portable and reusable identity credentials have also been shown to improve customer experience and increase access to services. As pre-verified users move from site to site, pass rates can exceed 99 percent when high-assurance credentials are reused. ID.me's approach to identity verification is increasing the number of people who can verify their identity and gain access to digital services, while reducing friction for users and empowering members to control their own data and privacy. With 50 million users now enrolled into a portable and reusable verified identity, ID.me is committed to a future where 'no identity is left behind.' 

ID.me focused identity verification innovation on communities left behind by historic methods of verification. By providing video-chat and in person verification pathways, individuals have more options to verify the way they choose. These communities include individuals without credit history, unhoused populations, Americans living overseas, and tribal users. ID.me addresses historical barriers for these communities. For example, a federal agency working with ID.me found that users in  Puerto Rico experienced a relative increase in pass rates of more than 200 percent with ID.me compared to the data broker solution previously used by the agency.

"The ID.me branded button on a website signifies a digital fast lane to streamline access to services," Hall explained. "This digital fast lane is particularly important to the most vulnerable populations. Data brokers, even those who use alternative data sources, do not have coverage for tens of millions of non-fraudulent users. ID.me's approach offers alternative verification options for enrollment, which includes more people in the promise of the digital economy. We lock in those inclusion gains via our identity wallet so users have a digital passport for access."

Meeting the NIST standards are also key to preventing fraud. During the pandemic, seven states credited ID.me with helping to prevent over $270 billion in fraud. Because fraud and identity theft slows down agency operations, these capabilities lead to more access over time.

"The power of the secure ID.me login," Hall explained, "is that it allows our business customers to move past a fractured tangle of confusing login systems. By unifying consumer identity across organizations, our customers can focus on their core mission and service delivery while outsourcing authentication to ID.me's secure network which increases access and lowers fraud."

ID.me has issued a digital wallet to more than 119 million members. More than 90 million are enrolled in Multi-Factor Authentication to protect their login from takeover. 50 million users are verified at NIST IAL2. Members can use their ID.me login and associated credentials at 15 federal agencies and at 40 state government agencies. ID.me's identity wallet also works across more than 600 consumer brands for use cases like social login, hotel guest check-in, exclusive financial savings, and account recovery.

Usercentrics, leading provider of consent and preference management solutions, stresses the importance for publishers to implement a Google-certified consent management platform (CMP) that supports the latest Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF) v2.2. Starting in February, publishers serving ads in the EU/EEA and UK face new requirements to secure their advertising revenue and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.

Publishers using Google AdSense, Ad Manager, or AdMob for EU/EEA or UK audiences now need to comply with Google's requirements to continue using personalization features and maintain their monetization. Usercentrics CMP provides an easy, reliable, and scalable way to achieve privacy compliance and meet Google’s requirements.

How publishers should prepare:

1. Adopt a solution that supports the TCF v2.2: Using the TCF v2.2 enables standardizing working with vendors, minimizes data privacy risks, and enables compliance with data privacy requirements.
2. Use a Google-certified CMP: By January 16, 2024, all publishers using Google AdSense, Ad Manager, or AdMob in the EU/EEA or UK were required to adopt a Google-certified CMP that supports the TCF v2.2 to continue serving ads and accessing personalization features.
3. Get support for Google’s Additional Consent: The Google-certified CMP implemented should also be able to signal consent collected from users to ad tech providers that are not part of the TCF v2.2 vendor list, but that are listed on Google’s Ad Tech Providers (ATP) list.

Usercentrics CEO Donna Dror noted, “Google provides services critical for audience reach and revenue generation to millions of companies globally. Their new requirements provide a tremendous boost for data privacy, making the need for users’ consent the standard in digital markets like online advertising.”

Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, introduces Story3, a distinctive project that enables creators to explore storytelling beyond conventional boundaries. Story3 embodies a new era of storytelling freedom and Xsolla's commitment to fostering the creative ecosystem. The platform provides a unique avenue for creators to interact directly with their audience and earn a justifiable share of revenue for their work.

"Today, creators are struggling with insufficient compensation, leading to challenges like erratic income streams and career uncertainty," said Shurick Agapitov, Founder of Xsolla and acclaimed author of Once Upon Tomorrow. "Story3 is our bold response to these issues, offering creators a platform to negotiate better terms and achieve more stable and predictable earnings from their work."

In an era marked by an explosion of digital content, the disparity in creator compensation has become increasingly pronounced. Addressing this critical issue, Xsolla brings forth Story3 as a meticulously engineered platform to empower storytellers, journalists, and writers, facilitating effective monetization while deepening the connection with their audience.

Story3 Features:

• Direct and Enhanced Audience Interaction: Story3 enables creators to engage directly with their audience by eliminating traditional distribution intermediaries.
• Efficient and User-Friendly Monetization Process: Integrating Xsolla's expertise in microtransactions, Story3 simplifies the monetization process for creators through twists. Each user choice, a 'twist,' leads to a branching path, creating a personalized and unique story.
• Streamlined Payouts: Story3 introduces an efficient payout system, ensuring creators receive timely and fair compensation, providing transparent, real-time earnings insights.

"The current digital narrative landscape often overlooks the value of its creators. With Story3, Xsolla is changing this narrative," said Chris Hewish, Interim CEO of Xsolla. "We're providing a platform where creators can directly engage with their audience and be rewarded fairly for their contributions, fostering a healthier, more vibrant future for digital storytelling,"

In his visionary book "Once Upon Tomorrow," author Shurick Agapitov explores the transformative power of storytelling and the creators' role in shaping the future of digital interactions.

A pioneer in the digital accessibility industry, Paciello brings four decades of knowledge and expertise to AudioEye's digital accessibility offerings 

AudioEye, Inc., the industry-leading web accessibility platform, is pleased to announce that Mike Paciello has joined the Company as Chief Accessibility Officer. Paciello brings over 40 years of expertise to this critical role, including authoring the first book on web accessibility, founding The Paciello Group (a pioneering accessibility solutions provider), and co-founding/co-chairing accessibility industry committees to drive advancements in policy and legislation.

"We are thrilled to have Mike join our team and feel he is joining us at an exciting time as we launch into our next phase of digital accessibility," said David Moradi, CEO of AudioEye. "Mike is a pioneer of digital accessibility with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in the digital world, and we look forward to utilizing his extensive expertise as we work with customers and the accessibility community."

In his role as Chief Accessibility Officer, Paciello will work cross-functionally to inform, advise, and drive efforts to help AudioEye continue as a strong partner and further meet the needs of the disability community in which it serves. A technologist at heart, Paciello is passionate about ensuring that people with disabilities are not left behind in the digital society.

"I strongly believe that finding the right balance between humans and automation is the combination we need to scale accessibility in order to ensure compliance and usability," Paciello said. "People with disabilities are often edged out, and where our entire ecosystem is centered around digital experiences, most of these experiences aren't enabling people with disabilities to equally participate. Our organizational goal is to contribute and support the accessibility industry, and I'm excited to help enhance the lives of users with disabilities and to work as a strategic partner with our colleagues in the field."

As the former co-chair of the United States Federal Access Board's Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee (TEITAC) and recognized by President Bill Clinton for his contribution to the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), Paciello has played a pivotal role in shaping accessibility standards and practices. His extensive knowledge and insights will be instrumental in driving efforts around AudioEye's expanding accessibility platform.

Paciello recently joined AudioEye's HearSay podcast to discuss the current state of digital accessibility, how businesses can better prioritize accessibility efforts, and how we all can work together to make the internet more inclusive.

Fora's C-Suite AI Powers Executive Action 

Today marks the debut of Fora, an innovative executive relationship management (ERM) platform poised to transform C-suite decision-making through cutting-edge AI technology. Fora emerges from stealth to pioneer an AI-driven approach to leadership, and is backed by $3.8 million in pre-seed funding led by Converge.

Fora's ERM platform is uniquely designed to address the distinct challenges faced by executive leaders, moving beyond the traditional focus of AI solutions, which cater predominantly to knowledge and task workers. By channeling an organization's continuous daily information flow into actionable insights, Fora enables leaders to navigate the complexities of their roles with enhanced clarity and efficiency.

Emphasizing the platform's unique position, Joe Essenfeld, co-founder and CEO of Fora, notes, "In a landscape dominated by AI solutions designed for widespread use among knowledge and task workers, Fora stands apart by specifically serving the C-suite. Going beyond enhancing decision-making capabilities, Fora ensures the highest levels of safety and security. Our platform acts as a safeguard for executive leaders, integrating AI to support strategic decisions while conscientiously minimizing organizational liability related to the retention of meeting recordings and transcripts. This careful approach advances leadership effectiveness and protects sensitive information, establishing Fora as a vital ally for the C-suite in navigating AI adoption with confidence and reduced risk."

Addressing Executive Information Overload

The relentless influx of data in today's corporate environment places unprecedented demands on executive bandwidth. Fora addresses this challenge directly by sourcing essential insights from the cacophony of information generated by organizations, allowing leaders to concentrate on strategic decision making and relationship building.

Simplifying Complex Data for Strategic Advantage

Fora excels at transforming the complexity of unstructured qualitative data into concise, understandable insights—overcoming a significant hurdle for effective executive leaders interested in clarity and action. With its secure and intuitive interface, Fora seamlessly becomes a part of the C-suite's daily routine, elevating executive preparation, issue resolution, and strategic planning. It ensures that concise, relevant, and timely information underpins every strategic decision, enhancing leadership effectiveness and organizational agility. 

User Spotlight

Joe Shaker, CEO of Shaker Recruitment Marketing, attests to Fora's transformative impact: "As our company navigated rapid growth, the challenge of managing an overwhelming volume of information became increasingly apparent. Fora has been instrumental in providing the insights necessary for effective leadership, becoming an indispensable tool for my team and me."

A Vision Supported by Strategic Investment and Leadership Expertise

Fora's vision garners strong support from its investors, underscored by the strategic addition of industry veterans to its Board of Directors. Nilanjana Bhowmik, founder and general partner of Converge, and Susan Vitale, former CMO of cloud-based recruitment platform iCIMS, have joined the board, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to Fora's strategic direction.

"The business world is ripe for the kind of transformation Fora brings to executive leadership," stated Bhowmik. "In an AI-driven age, Fora distinguishes itself by equipping C-suite leaders with tools that not only amplify decision-making capabilities but also foster deeper, more impactful relationships."

With the combined expertise of Bhowmik and Vitale, Fora is poised to redefine executive leadership, steering it towards a future where AI and human insight converge to drive unparalleled organizational success.