New CMO joins Sitecore as company experiences robust growth following extensive investment in fully-composable, digital content and commerce offerings

Sitecore^®, a global leader in digital experience management software, has named Kathie Johnson its new chief marketing officer (CMO), effective immediately. Johnson will lead Sitecore's marketing function based out of the firm's San Francisco headquarters. 

With over 25 years of experience building brands that customers love in the B2B technology sector, Johnson most recently was the chief marketing officer for Talkdesk, a leading global contact center platform provider. During her time at Talkdesk, Johnson led the firm's marketing organization through a transformative growth period, taking the company from #66 in the Forbes Cloud100 list in 2019 to #8 in 2022 and 2023. As Talkdesk's first CMO, Kathie helped the organization create and launch a vertical approach, expand into new countries in EMEA, APAC and Latam, and extend the product portfolio.

Prior to her time at Talkdesk, Johnson spent almost four years at Salesforce where she was the senior vice president of marketing, responsible for driving significant gains in revenue through the full marketing funnel for seven key industries (Financial Services, Healthcare Life Sciences, Retail Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, Automotive & Energy, Public Sector, Communications & Media and Travel, Transportation & Hospitality) comprised of 18 subverticals. Prior to leading industries for Salesforce, Johnson was the vice president of marketing for Salesforce's Commerce Cloud.

"I am excited to join Sitecore because of its innovative technology that is a true game changer for CMOs and CDOs who seek to differentiate their companies through superior digital experiences," said Kathie Johnson, CMO of Sitecore. "Sitecore is a leader in its space and continues to innovate by prioritizing a roadmap focused on SaaS-based, cloud native tools built on composable architecture. I am thrilled to be part of Sitecore's journey and look forward to working with our customers, partners, and employees around the globe."

"Kathie's track record as a marketing leader speaks for itself," said Steve Tzikakis, CEO of Sitecore. "Her formidable background securing brand expansion and delivering incredible digital experiences will massively contribute to Sitecore's efforts to disrupt, accelerate and innovate digital experience delivery. Sitecore's compelling message offering SaaS-based, composable solutions will be greatly aided by this wonderful addition to our leadership. On behalf of Sitecore, we are thrilled to welcome Kathie to our team."

Sitecore drives superior digital experiences for many of the largest and most respected brands in healthcare, financial services, retail, automotive, manufacturing and more. Its customers include more than a third of the Fortune 100 and nearly half of the S&P Global 100. Recent product innovations have seen Sitecore introduce solutions that make the switch to SaaS and a composable future easier and more intuitive than ever before.

In early October 2023, Sitecore announced the launch of XM Cloud Plus, an extended digital-experience solution that brings together content management, AI-powered search, personalization, customer data management and analytics. This follows on the back of the successful unveiling of XM Cloud, the industry's first fully-native cloud CMS solution, which quickly became the company's fastest-selling SaaS product with over 100 major brand adoptions. Sitecore Accelerate supports the addition of XM Cloud Plus to Sitecore's exciting product portfolio by giving teams the knowledge, resources, tools, and human support needed to unlock the full potential of a SaaS-based future.

Doba, a leading name in the American dropshipping arena, proudly unveils its groundbreaking social commerce app, Doba Direct. Launched on July 31st, the platform caters specifically to global social media enthusiasts, seamlessly integrating Doba's robust supply chain for an unparalleled experience. Doba Direct brings forth top-tier sourcing, intelligent product curation, swift fulfillment, dedicated customer service, and an inventive social sharing model designed for influencers to reap substantial commissions.

Crafted with social media users in mind, Doba Direct revolutionizes the monetization process for content creators. Through an intuitively designed interface, influencers captivate their audience by sharing meticulously curated products, driving purchases, and earning commissions for every sale—a transformative approach turning creative endeavors into tangible financial rewards.

To usher in the festive season, Doba Direct unveils the "Grateful Heart" campaign, showcasing high-commission products such as Thanksgiving decorations and gifts. Influencers on the app can effortlessly share these offerings across multiple social media platforms, fortifying connections with fans and offering valuable shopping insights.

In addition to its innovative approach, Doba Direct introduces a points-based reward system and a lucrative referral policy, providing users with additional channels for monetization. Daily check-ins and product shares accumulate points, exchangeable for cash rewards. Inviting friends to join Doba Direct can earn users up to $20 in rewards.

Startup Delivers Exceptional Growth, Increasing Annual Recurring Revenue by More Than 5X Over the Past Two Years

LucidLink, pioneers in enabling instant access to data and real-time collaboration for the world's most innovative companies, today announced that it has raised $75 million in Series C funding, including secondaries, led by Brighton Park Capital an investment firm focused on entrepreneur-led, growth-stage companies within the software, healthcare, and tech-enabled services businesses space. Major existing investors, including Headline, Baseline Ventures, and Adobe Ventures, also participated. Over the past two years – despite a challenging environment – LucidLink has delivered exceptional growth, including growing its annual recurring revenue (ARR) by nearly 5x and the number of users on its platform by over 4x.

Founded in 2016, LucidLink developed the world's first storage collaboration platform designed to help remote and hybrid teams of creative professionals tackle a variety of complex use cases by enabling immediate access to huge files and secure real-time collaboration. LucidLink's system is built specifically for the modern computing environment, eliminating the need to download or synchronize files by allowing users to stream data directly from the cloud.

"LucidLink recognized a substantial need for real-time collaboration in the cloud, and their solution has rapidly become indispensable for hybrid and remote creative professionals, underscored by its robust recent growth and diverse customer base of leading innovative companies," said Mike Gregoire and Sam Kentor, Partners at Brighton Park Capital. "The Company is well-positioned to build on its momentum, and we are excited to support LucidLink's strategic initiatives to drive future growth."

According to a recent Filestage report, three-quarters of creative collaboration now happens remotely, with the average creative review process taking eight days and over three versions to receive sign-off.¹ International Data Corporation predicts this trend will drive investment in cloud infrastructure and services to $1.2 trillion by 2027 as the need for businesses to prepare for a hybrid workforce grows more urgent.² For creative industries that work with complex files and applications, real-time collaboration across a hybrid and remote employee base has become a top pain point organizations face today.

Peter Thompson, CEO and Co-Founder of LucidLink, stated, "Legacy collaboration and storage solutions are not designed for this new hybrid workplace reality, and LucidLink is becoming the go-to solution for companies looking to future-proof their businesses. Our customers are reaching 5x in productivity gains on previously impossible workflows, and we are excited to see how they continue to unlock new possibilities as we help to accelerate the future of collaborative work."

Thompson added, "Brighton Park's deep expertise, broad network, and track record of supporting growth across its portfolio companies make it the perfect partner, and we are grateful to our existing investors for their continued support."

Today, LucidLink customers in creative industries and beyond are collaborating on over one billion files across 40 countries. Customers include Adobe, A&E Networks, Whirlpool, Shopify, Buzzfeed, and Spotify, as well as Hollywood studios, major broadcasters, brands, digital ad agencies, architectural firms, and gaming companies. The new capital will accelerate LucidLink's product and engineering development, customer acquisition efforts, and expansion into new verticals and geographies.

"With this Series C investment, LucidLink will accelerate its most ambitious product updates in the Company's history to expand our technology leadership position, open up new customer use cases, and create more personalized product experiences that enable creative professionals to work more efficiently and effectively," said George Dochev, CTO and Co-Founder of LucidLink.

LucidLink's industry-leading technology and culture has received numerous accolades, including National Association of Broadcasters Product of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and Inc. Magazine's Best US Workplaces in 2023. LucidLink is hiring across departments and geographies. 

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the world's attention but also has introduced new risks and concerns that were not on people's radars even a year ago. Today more than 8 in 10 (82%) are concerned about the use of AI by criminals to steal someone's identity, that's according to a group of general consumer respondents of the latest Agency Forward survey conducted by Nationwide.

• 6 in 10 consumers are concerned about potential cyberattacks

Top Reasons for Concern: a perceived increase in recent cyberattacks (55%), use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology (54%), and proficiency of today's hackers (51%)

The Big Picture: Cyber threats are still top of mind for consumers, only a third (34%) of consumers feel prepared to prevent a cyberattack, and only 41% are confident in their ability to recover from a cyberattack.

• Nearly half (45%) would hire or outsource someone to lead the recovery process if they were to fall victim to an attack, this is up +5 points from 2022 findings

Why It Matters: 2022 had the second-highest number of data compromises in the U.S. in a single year with at least 422 million individuals impacted.

Common Cyberattacks

Cybercrime Familiarity: Respondents reported being most familiar with: 46% phishing, 45% malware, 44% cyber bullying; and respondents said they were not at all knowledgeable about: 54% digital unemployment fraud, 53% DoS (denial of service) attacks, 51% deepfakes, 48% digital tax fraud.

By the Numbers:

• 10% reported having been a victim of an attack, down -10 points from 2022 findings
• Most common attacks reported are: 40% password attacks, 34% malware, 30% data breaches
• Only 53% knew what to do when they identified the attack
• Half (51%) reported an impact on their personal finances
• Measure taken included: 58% changing passwords, 40% updated cybersecurity software, 31% purchased ID theft protection

Most consumers who monitor their personal information or accounts do so themselves rather than using an external service—the accounts most likely to be self-monitored: 47% financial accounts, 42% emails, 39% social security—all up from 2022 findings (+13 points, +10 points, +8 points respectively).

Interest is Increasing but Lack of Knowledge Holds Consumers Back From Purchasing Cyber Insurance

• 15% of consumers report currently owning cyber insurance, down 1 point from 2022 findings.

Barriers for not having it: 40% lack of knowledge, 36% lack of awareness of availability, 29% perceived costs.

Consider This: According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, in 2022 there was a 5% decrease in total number of complaints reported, but dollar losses increased by 49%.

The Bottom Line: Many consumers say the increased reliance on technology (47%), development of AI technology (47%), news about cyberattacks (47%), increased use of digital payments (46%) has made them more likely to purchase cyber insurance or expand their current coverage.

• 3 in 4 consumers are interested in investing in resources or products affiliated with identity recovery and financial account monitoring:
  • 75% are interested in identity recovery—pays for the costs of recovering from an identity theft as well as a full-service ID theft restoration services
  • 74% are interested in payment accounts and financial accounts monitoring and activity alerts
  • 72% are interested in computer attack protection—removes malware and reprograms computers and tables, Wi-Fi routers, or other internet access points

Key Takeaway: Having cyber insurance can dramatically shrink the cost and time it takes to recover from a cyber issue. Nationwide offers ID theft coverage for $45 a year (that is less than $4 a month) and includes cyber protection services, an identity protection portal and resolution services features—this can be added to any home or auto policy. Consumers can check with their agent to see what's available to them and identify vulnerabilities.

CallRevu, a leading force, powering excellence in automotive communication intelligence solutions, is delighted to announce the appointment of Keri Cohen as the new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). This strategic move coincides with a pivotal moment in CallRevu's trajectory of rapid expansion and innovation, underscoring the company's unwavering commitment to industry excellence.

CallRevu, a leading force, powering excellence in automotive communication intelligence solutions, is delighted to announce the appointment of Keri Cohen as the new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). This strategic move coincides with a pivotal moment in CallRevu's trajectory of rapid expansion and innovation, underscoring the company's unwavering commitment to industry excellence.

"Part of my plan as CEO when I took over was to build a world-class leadership team," said Ben Chodor, CEO of CallRevu. "Keri Cohen's appointment as our new Chief Marketing Officer is a significant milestone in this endeavor. Her dynamic leadership, coupled with our ongoing advancements, will drive CallRevu to new heights. Keri's role is pivotal in shaping and executing our go-to-market strategies as we continue revolutionizing the automotive communication landscape."

In her capacity as CMO, Keri Cohen will lead CallRevu's marketing initiatives, focusing on amplifying brand presence and refining strategic marketing efforts. Her expertise will be instrumental, playing a vital role in optimizing and enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction, ensuring that CallRevu remains at the forefront of leading-edge solutions in the automotive sector.

"Joining a company devoted to pushing boundaries and establishing new industry benchmarks is incredibly exciting. I am honored to assume the role of Chief Marketing Officer at CallRevu, particularly during this period of transformative growth and innovation," said Keri Cohen. "I'm incredibly energized by the opportunity to drive more awareness for such a respected and forward-thinking company and to collaborate with the team to propel our go-to-market initiatives."

Keri Cohen brings a wealth of experience to CallRevu, with a proven track record in crafting impactful marketing strategies across diverse sectors. Her appointment underscores CallRevu's dedication to providing dynamic, cutting-edge solutions and solidifies its position as an industry leader in automotive communication intelligence.

- 100% YoY organic growth in the USA; outside of the acquisitions

- Disrupting the agency-led loyalty market with its SaaS offering

- 50-75% incremental tech investment towards AI every year

Capillary Technologies, a global loyalty technology solutions company announced a 4X growth in the last 3 years in the US market. The loyalty management market is worth more than $10 billion and has been primarily an agency-led model. With its cloud-based SaaS offering, Capillary is disrupting the market to help enterprise brands transition to RoI-driven loyalty programs that genuinely engage customers and win their loyalty.

Apart from the successful acquisition of Persuade in 2021 and Brierley+Partners in 2023, Capillary has been organically growing 100% YoY in the USA. This growth has primarily been led by product which was validated when Forrester named Capillary a Leader in the Forrester Wave Report for Loyalty Technology Solutions, Q1 2023. The company is also investing heavily in AI with a commitment of 50-75% of the incremental tech investment every year towards artificial intelligence.

The combination of SaaS, consulting, and downstream digital services is a massive differentiator for Capillary. Elaborating on the SaaS model, one of the key benefits it brings to the North American loyalty market is the modularity, cost-efficiency, and ease of use. For example, most of the agency-led programs are hard-coded and with little scope for flexibility. With Capillary’s SaaS platform, brands get the ability to run extremely flexible and agile loyalty programs with real time insights and reports to generate real RoI.

Another advantage of the SaaS model is that brands get a world-class technology roadmap with features and functionalities that get shipped to them every quarter without any additional cost. Topping it up with Brierley’s consulting expertise and an end-to-end loyalty management platform, brands have the perfect mix.

16 of the Fortune 200 companies use Capillary and with several mentions in analyst reports over the past year, enterprises across verticals are making the shift to SaaS-based loyalty tech. Some of the key benefits include:

- Increased customer retention through Loyalty+

- Personalized customer communication through Engage+

- Extensive rewards network in the form of Rewards+

- In-depth reporting and analytics through Insights+

- All powered by a highly-secured CDP

“Customer expectations in the form of digitization have skyrocketed and brands must deliver an omnichannel experience to keep the customers engaged and win their loyalty. Brands have realized this and we’re seeing that in the form of an increased pipeline. Our funnel has grown 3.5x in the last 6 months in the USA and we are hiring aggressively to support this demand. We are super excited to enable brands to run RoI-driven loyalty programs which helps turn loyalty into a new business line altogether,” said Sameer Garde, CEO of Capillary Technologies.

"Our remarkable growth in the USA, especially the 4x increase over the last three years, is a testament to our innovative approach in the loyalty technology sector. By integrating cutting-edge AI into our SaaS offerings, we're not just offering a product but a transformative solution for brands. This growth signifies not only the success of our strategy but also the evolving needs of the market. We're committed to leading the charge in revolutionizing loyalty programs, making them more adaptable, cost-effective, and impactful for businesses aiming to foster customer loyalty,” said Aneesh Reddy, founder & MD at Capillary Technologies.

Global marketing consultancy Kepler today announced the launch of KIP MMM, a proprietary Marketing Mix Model solution to deliver high-impact performance and increasing value against a changing data privacy and measurement landscape.

The new offering boasts full integration into the Kepler Intelligence Platform (KIP), an audience and decisioning engine that has powered billions in media investment for Fortune 500 companies, and is designed to meet the critical measurement needs of contemporary marketers. By merging key AdTech and measurement components into a streamlined solution housed within KIP, KIP MMM will provide clarity amid an increasingly complex martech stack.

KIP MMM is a first-of-its-kind integration built on Robyn, Meta’s open-source code that enables the in-house development of cookieless measurement solutions. With ad operations, ad performance, budget tracking, and automated insights consolidated within KIP, Kepler provides brand marketers the advanced solutions they demand, without the need to engage multiple AdTech vendors.

Evan Miller, Kepler's Global Head of Product and Data Science, stated: "Unlike most MMMs that purport to give clients insight in the form of rote deck presentations every few months, we built KIP MMM to go beyond the siloed view. It integrates into our existing data infrastructure and dashboards, which lets marketers not only understand the strategic, cross-channel impact of their programs, but also tie MMM insights to everything they do each day.”

KIP MMM will help brands identify opportunities to increase ROI by as much as 60%. Additionally, brands can expect a 50% reduction in modeling time and an average of 40% cost savings when compared to MMM vendors.

KIP continues to earn industry accolades and was recently named 2023’s Best Program Management Solution by the MarTech Breakthrough Awards and Best Commerce Media Technology at the 2023 AdExchanger Awards. Kepler's latest MMM innovation underscores its commitment to delivering value and efficiency for brands navigating an evolving digital marketing landscape.

CivicScience, the leader in real-time consumer insights, today announced the release of a generative AI analytics assistant that uniquely solves trust issues surrounding this rapidly expanding technology, making it safe for use in critical business decisions.

"GenAI is transforming how corporate leaders get value from data, and the guardrails we've created with our new Sage AI product will speed adoption of this exciting technology in better understanding consumer behavior and intent," said CivicScience founder and CEO John Dick, adding that the company also has included similar safety measures in other AI products.

Large language models (LLMs), which underpin systems such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard, can often suffer from hallucinations, spouting credible fiction that is unreliable in situations where accuracy is paramount.

Sage relies on an "AI sandwich" to guard against these problems. ChatGPT serves as the bread, interpreting questions from users and summarizing results. The meat of the sandwich is CivicScience's proprietary systems that perform live statistical analyses on a database of nearly 600,000 poll questions and five billion responses from millions of American consumers.

When Sage users pose consumer analytics questions in plain English, such as, "What are luxury car-buying trends among middle-aged women in the Northeast?" they receive responses with extensive citations pointing back to source data in CivicScience's InsightStore, as well as an available spreadsheet download with expanded underlying data. The system also evaluates and scores every AI-generated response for veracity as an extra check.

"GenAI will ultimately liberate data-driven companies from the drudgery of processing data and let them focus more on the 'why' behind insights," added Dick. "Sage just takes a lot of the worry out of that by ticking and tying every number back to data that our customers have trusted for years."

Another challenge that Sage solves is how CivicScience can leverage its daily conversations with a half million American consumers, resulting in more than four million new poll responses every day.

"For most companies, GenAI is just a search engine on steroids that artfully summarizes static documents and draws connections among different texts, but this approach doesn't work with massive streams of data that get larger every day," said Joseph Galarneau, CivicScience Chief Product Officer. "We think there's huge potential at the intersection of LLMs and dynamic data, which is where we're focusing our research efforts."

Among the first martech products to use OpenAI's next-generation LLM, released just two weeks ago, Sage is currently available via a webchat interface and soon will have tie-ins to Slack and Microsoft Teams to connect to any enterprise employee. The system can understand queries in more than 100 languages and will eventually be able to converse in many of them. Sage has been in beta since the summer with more than 30 companies, including a number of Global 2000 firms.

Sage is just the latest AI product from CivicScience, which was launched more than a decade ago from an incubator at global computer science leader Carnegie Mellon University. Earlier this year, the company's QGen poll generation platform, which uses GenAI combined with human review for every question, demonstrated a 10x improvement in internal process efficiency while including AI safety measures. The company's InsightStore analytics application has employed supervised and unsupervised machine learning for years.