Teikametrics, the leading AI-powered Marketplace Optimization Platform, has appointed Sandie Hawkins as its new President. Hawkins, who previously led TikTok's U.S. ecommerce division, brings over two decades of experience in ecommerce, multi-channel marketing, and social shopping. Her appointment is set to accelerate Teikametrics’ growth, particularly in expanding its offerings and optimizing its platform for sellers across major ecommerce marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart.

1. Sandie Hawkins’ Appointment and Experience

• Leadership Background: Hawkins has more than 20 years of experience in ecommerce, marketing, and advertising, having previously served as the Head of Ecommerce at TikTok.
• Proven Track Record: She has successfully driven growth at some of the world's most innovative companies, including TikTok, where she led their U.S. ecommerce division.

2. Teikametrics’ Platform Capabilities

• AI-Powered Optimization: The platform optimizes over 180 million SKUs and manages more than $15 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), becoming a key tool for ecommerce sellers.
• Marketplace Reach: Teikametrics serves sellers on major platforms like Amazon and Walmart, enabling them to optimize their catalogs and media investments effectively.

3. Strategic Vision for Growth

• Expansion Across Multiple Marketplaces: With Hawkins at the helm, Teikametrics aims to scale its offerings, targeting both established platforms like Amazon and emerging marketplaces where ecommerce is growing rapidly.
• Cross-Channel Optimization: Teikametrics centralizes insights from various platforms into a single, AI-driven SaaS interface, enabling data-driven decisions that enhance profitability and growth.

4. The Role of AI in Marketplace Optimization

• AI-Powered Decision Making: The Teikametrics platform acts as an “AI brain” that analyzes large datasets, helping brands optimize their media and product strategies across multiple channels.
• Seamless Multi-Marketplace Management: By streamlining data insights into a unified interface, Teikametrics empowers sellers to adapt to consumer behavior shifts and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

5. Hawkins’ Vision for Teikametrics

• Future-Ready Ecommerce: Hawkins is passionate about driving impactful, data-driven results, helping brands thrive in the new era of AI-powered, multi-channel commerce.
• Transformative Leadership: With her expertise, Hawkins is poised to unlock new growth opportunities and accelerate Teikametrics’ global impact in the ecommerce and advertising sectors.

The appointment of Sandie Hawkins as President marks a significant milestone in Teikametrics' evolution as a leader in AI-driven marketplace optimization. With her expertise in ecommerce and advertising, Hawkins is well-positioned to guide Teikametrics into its next phase of growth, helping brands optimize their strategies across multiple ecommerce platforms.

Dynata, the most trusted source for accurate first-party data, has appointed two experienced executives, Mike Jaffe and Richard Poustie, to key leadership positions. Mike Jaffe has been appointed General Manager, Global Operations, and Richard Poustie will lead Dynata's EMEA Media division. These strategic hires are expected to strengthen Dynata’s operations and expand its media services in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), as part of the company's continued focus on growth and delivering superior data quality to customers.

1. Mike Jaffe's Appointment as General Manager, Global Operations

• Previous Experience: Jaffe joins Dynata from Media Radar, where he led the company's service delivery strategy. He brings over 18 years of experience in leadership roles at Kantar Media and Vivix.
• Operational Expertise: Jaffe has a proven track record of driving operational excellence and building high-performing teams. His extensive experience in both North America and globally will be crucial to Dynata's expansion and operational success.

2. Richard Poustie’s Role as Head of Dynata's EMEA Media Division

• Industry Leadership: Poustie has a distinguished career in media research and audience measurement, having served in leadership positions at Kantar Media, including CEO of UK and Ireland and Global CEO for the TGI media planning tool.
• Focus on Sales Strategy: In his new role, Poustie will focus on shaping Dynata's sales and go-to-market strategies in EMEA, driving growth through Dynata’s integrated advertising effectiveness and cross-media solutions.
• Strategic Leadership: Poustie’s vast experience in business leadership and media solutions will help unlock new opportunities and deliver value to media agencies and organizations in the region.

3. Dynata's Strategic Commitment to Growth

• Enhancing Global Operations: With Jaffe’s leadership, Dynata aims to continue driving operational excellence, ensuring superior service delivery across all regions.
• Expanding Media Division: Poustie's leadership will enable Dynata to build a stronger presence in the EMEA region, offering integrated solutions for advertising effectiveness and cross-media analytics.

4. The Importance of Data Quality at Dynata

• Trusted Source of Data: Dynata continues to prioritize the reliability and accuracy of its first-party data, which is a key factor in driving customer success and fueling the company's growth.
• Strategic Vision: The appointments of Jaffe and Poustie align with Dynata's mission to provide best-in-class data and insights that power smarter decisions for media agencies and global companies.

With the appointments of Mike Jaffe and Richard Poustie, Dynata is poised to strengthen its operational capabilities and expand its presence in the global media landscape. These hires underscore the company’s commitment to continued growth and innovation, ensuring Dynata remains at the forefront of providing reliable, high-quality data solutions to its customers.

Searchspring, a global leader in online product discovery, has merged with Klevu, an AI-driven search and discovery company, to form a new integrated platform: Athos Commerce. Backed by PSG, this new combination brings together cutting-edge technologies in product discovery, on-site search, multi-channel product syndication, and personalization, offering ecommerce professionals an ultimate solution to enhance the online shopping experience and optimize revenue.

1. The Strategic Merger of Searchspring and Klevu

• AI-Driven Innovation: The merger combines Searchspring’s expertise in on-site optimization and multi-channel syndication with Klevu’s advanced AI-powered search and discovery capabilities.
• Unified Platform: The new brand, Athos Commerce, brings all solutions under one roof, offering retailers a comprehensive platform for product discovery, merchandising, and cross-sell opportunities.

2. Statements from Key Leaders

• Nilay Oza, CEO of Klevu: Oza emphasized that the merger with Searchspring allows Klevu to enhance its AI-powered technology, increase reach, and drive faster innovation to boost conversions and customer experiences.
• Alex Kombos, CEO of Searchspring: Kombos highlighted that the new brand, Athos Commerce, will enable both companies to deliver next-level AI innovation to their shared customers and partners.
• Chris Andrews, Managing Director at PSG: Andrews stressed the importance of this merger for driving innovation and setting a new standard in ecommerce, ensuring global reach and support.

3. Why This Matters for Retailers and Partners

• Comprehensive AI-Driven Solutions: The integration of Klevu’s AI search technology with Searchspring’s suite of services enables a seamless product discovery journey, enhanced with cross-sell automation, merchandising, and detailed analytics.
• Global Reach: With a presence across the United Kingdom, European Union, United States, Australia, and India, Athos Commerce provides round-the-clock global service and support.
• Faster Innovation Cycle: Combining the expertise of both companies accelerates the product roadmap, allowing for quicker rollouts of cutting-edge ecommerce solutions that cater to the dynamic needs of modern retailers.
• Single Destination for Ecommerce Professionals: The unified platform streamlines workflows for retailers, offering a single destination for managing search, merchandising, insights, and automation, simplifying vendor relationships and improving operational efficiency.

4. Impact on the Ecommerce Landscape

• Enhanced Shopping Experience: By combining top-tier technologies from both companies, Athos Commerce aims to elevate the online shopping experience, making it easier for consumers to find the products they want and complete their purchases more efficiently.
• Optimized Revenue Potential: Retailers will benefit from a more optimized, data-driven approach to ecommerce, improving conversion rates and maximizing revenue through AI-powered product discovery and personalized shopping journeys.

The merger of Searchspring and Klevu to form Athos Commerce marks a major step forward in ecommerce innovation. With an integrated platform that combines AI-driven product discovery, search optimization, and merchandising, Athos Commerce is poised to revolutionize how retailers approach online shopping and customer engagement. Retailers worldwide can look forward to enhanced performance, faster innovation cycles, and a seamless experience across multiple sales channels.

Smarsh, the global leader in digital communications data and intelligence, has been named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Communications Governance and Archiving Solutions (DCGAS). The report, which introduces the DCGAS category, evaluates vendors on their Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute. Smarsh’s positioning furthest to the right for Completeness of Vision highlights its market leadership and innovative approach to governance and archiving solutions.

1. Smarsh's Leadership in the Gartner Magic Quadrant

• Positioning for Completeness of Vision: Smarsh was placed furthest to the right, demonstrating its exceptional vision for digital communications governance and archiving.
• CEO Kim Crawford Goodman’s Statement: Smarsh CEO Kim Crawford Goodman expressed pride in the recognition, citing the company’s commitment to innovation, excellence, and empowering organizations with an AI-enabled platform for digital communications.

2. Key Drivers of Smarsh’s Success

• Generative AI Partnerships: Smarsh has teamed up with OpenAI to expand capture capabilities, enhancing the scope of its digital communications solutions.
• Enhanced Cloud-Native Platform: A renewed partnership with AWS supports Smarsh’s AI-enabled platform for archiving communications at scale, catering particularly to financial institutions.
• Industry Innovations:
  • Launch of the first AI-powered Intelligent Agent for communications surveillance.
  • Publication of the first comprehensive textbook on large language models (LLMs).
  • Completion of the Telemessage acquisition, bolstering Smarsh’s position in mobile communications capture, including WhatsApp.
  • Introduction of the Annual Services Plan (ASP), offering customers greater flexibility with cost predictability.

3. Recognition and Industry Validation

• 2024 Awards and Accolades:
  • “Best e-Comms Surveillance Solution” at the RegTech Insight USA Awards.
  • Bronze for “Best Digital Customer Experience” at the USA CXA Awards.
  • Inclusion in FinTech Global’s AIFINTECH100 list for top AI innovators in financial services.
  • Recognition as one of the Inc5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies and recipient of the Inc5000 Legacy Award.

4. Key Industry Trends and Smarsh’s Position

• Rising Demand for Unified Solutions: The Gartner report highlights a significant trend where by 2028, 80% of digital communications governance and archiving customers will consolidate supervision of text and audio/video content into a single solution—a sharp increase from less than 20% in 2024.
• Future Outlook: As digital communications governance becomes more critical for organizations, Smarsh is poised to continue leading innovation in this space, helping businesses capture, archive, and monitor communications data at scale.

Smarsh’s inclusion as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Communications Governance and Archiving Solutions underscores its leadership and commitment to innovation in the industry. With its AI-powered platform, strategic partnerships, and focus on customer success, Smarsh is well-positioned to shape the future of digital communications governance and archiving. As organizations face increasing demands for robust data capture and surveillance, Smarsh remains at the forefront, driving business value and operational excellence.

Mediaocean, a leading partner for omnichannel advertising, has unveiled the 2025 H1 Advertising Outlook Report. This comprehensive study, based on a survey of nearly 700 marketing professionals, explores how the advertising landscape is evolving in response to technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviors. Key insights from the report indicate a significant rise in the adoption of generative AI, automation, and prioritization of digital channels like social media, digital display/video, and Connected TV (CTV).

1. Prioritization of Ad Spending

• Social Media, Digital Display/Video, and CTV: These channels are identified as the fastest-growing areas for marketers in 2025.
  • 68% of marketers plan to increase spending on social media.
  • 67% plan to increase spending on digital display/video.
  • 55% plan to invest more in Connected TV (CTV).

2. Rise of Generative AI

• AI as the Leading Consumer Trend: 63% of marketers view generative AI as critical to their strategy, with its influence surpassing CTV.
• Advancements in AI: Marketers are leveraging AI to reshape workflows and develop more sophisticated, targeted advertising strategies, allowing for greater personalization and automation.

3. Automation in Advertising

• Fast-Growing Investment Area: Automation is highlighted as the fastest-growing investment area, showing a 17% increase in adoption since mid-2024. This trend indicates that marketers are increasingly adopting automation tools to streamline workflows across different media formats, improving efficiency and effectiveness.

4. Multi-ID Measurement

• Adoption of Multiple Identity Solutions: As part of evolving measurement strategies, almost half of marketers identify multi-ID measurement as a top concern for 2025. This indicates a broader industry move toward more accurate and comprehensive attribution models, essential for improving campaign effectiveness and ROI.

5. Addressing the Creative-Media Gap

• Synchronization Challenges: Despite slight improvements, 86% of advertisers report a significant gap between creative and media processes. This presents an opportunity for growth, as marketers work to better align these two crucial aspects of their campaigns for improved results.

6. Insights from Industry Leaders

• Brian Wieser’s Foreword: The report includes insights from Brian Wieser, CEO of Madison and Wall, who reflects on the advertising industry’s resilience and ongoing innovation.
• Aaron Goldman’s Statement: Aaron Goldman, CMO of Mediaocean, emphasizes the profound industry shifts occurring, particularly in AI, automation, and measurement frameworks.
• Deborah Wahl's Comment: Deborah Wahl, CMO Hall of Fame member and former GM CMO, draws parallels between AI’s transformative role in advertising and the rise of electric vehicles in the auto industry, urging marketers to embrace AI to capitalize on its potential.

The 2025 H1 Advertising Outlook Report from Mediaocean provides valuable insights into the future of advertising, highlighting the increasing role of AI, automation, and digital channels. As marketers navigate a rapidly evolving landscape, the findings offer a roadmap to adapt and thrive in a competitive marketplace, focusing on AI-driven strategies, advanced measurement techniques, and efficient workflows.

EZ Texting, the leading text marketing platform for businesses of all sizes, has unveiled its 2025 Consumer Texting Behavior Report. Now in its fourth year, the report highlights a transformative shift in consumer communication preferences. With an impressive 98% SMS open rate, texting has evolved into a pivotal channel for audience engagement, enabling immediate and meaningful interactions.

Key Insights from the 2025 Report

1. SMS: The Preferred Business Communication Tool

• Consumers strongly favor SMS for its speed, convenience, and reliability over other channels like social media and email.
• Businesses adopting SMS are experiencing higher customer engagement, while those lagging risk losing touch with consumer needs.

2. Growing Consumer Dependence on SMS

• 86% of consumers now opt in for business texts, marking a 20% increase since 2021.
• 79% are more likely to make purchases after subscribing to SMS updates, a 21% growth from 2024.
• 52% of consumers are texting businesses more often, reflecting a 31% rise from 2023.

3. SMS as a Driver of Action and Loyalty

• 71% of consumers subscribe to SMS without making prior purchases.
• 47% provide feedback via SMS, up from 35% in 2024.
• Texting overall has increased, with 63% texting more frequently and 52% engaging with businesses, compared to 31% last year.

4. Consumer Expectations: Speed and Personalization

• 57% of consumers expect businesses to respond within 15 minutes.
• 67% report heightened interest in products after receiving a text, a 21% increase from 2024.
• 49% are purchasing more frequently due to timely SMS communications.

The 2025 Consumer Texting Behavior Report by EZ Texting reaffirms SMS as an essential communication channel for businesses. With consumers demanding faster responses and personalized experiences, embracing SMS marketing can significantly enhance engagement, build loyalty, and drive sales. Businesses must prioritize this tool to meet evolving consumer expectations and remain competitive.

RHEI, a global leader in content distribution and marketing within the creator economy, has launched RHEI Data Pro, a groundbreaking Data Monetization Platform. This platform enables creators and content owners to generate revenue from their extensive content libraries by licensing them for training next-generation foundational models. With over $35 million already activated in partnership with major platforms, RHEI Data Pro reinforces RHEI's commitment to empowering creators and ensuring fair compensation for their contributions to the evolving AI landscape.

Key Highlights of RHEI Data Pro

1. Empowering Creators in the AI Era

• Provides a new revenue pathway for creators based on their existing work.
• Recognizes creators as key contributors to the Augmented Creativity Era.
• Ensures fair compensation when content is utilized for training AI models.

2. Revenue Opportunities for Content Owners

• Creators can earn up to $100,000 for every 1,000 hours of licensed content.
• Supports licensing for diverse, high-value content across multiple languages.
• Unlocks revenue potential from already-created content libraries.

3. Seamless and Flexible Licensing Process

• RHEI manages data preparation and augmentation to meet the requirements of leading tech companies.
• Incorporates metadata to enhance the value of licensed content.
• Adopts a flexible, per-hour pricing model that ensures fair creator compensation.

4. Strategic Vision for Data Monetization

• Transforms data into a strategic revenue stream for creators and content owners.
• Reinforces the symbiosis between AI and human creativity.
• Highlights RHEI's commitment to long-term value creation for all stakeholders.

Statements from RHEI Leadership

• Shahrzad Rafati, CEO of RHEI:
  "RHEI Data Pro ensures creators are fairly compensated as they actively participate in AI's evolution. Our vision is to position creators as invaluable contributors to the Augmented Creativity Era."

• Lewis Ball, Chief Strategy and Product Officer:
  "With RHEI Data Pro, data evolves from being foundational to a driver of growth and innovation. This platform empowers creators to monetize content in innovative ways while delivering lasting value to all stakeholders."

RHEI Data Pro is redefining content monetization in the creator economy by offering creators a seamless way to license and monetize their content libraries. By combining fair compensation, innovative licensing models, and robust data preparation, the platform positions creators at the forefront of the AI-driven Augmented Creativity Era.

Respond.io, a global leader in customer conversation management software, has announced a groundbreaking AI-powered solution for TikTok Messaging Ads alongside its TikTok Business Messaging integration. This innovation allows businesses to seamlessly manage TikTok messages within respond.io’s platform, consolidating communications across multiple channels. This integration aims to address SME challenges such as resource constraints and inefficiencies, reducing customer management time by 40% and increasing sales by 30%.

Key Features and Benefits of Respond.io's TikTok Integration

1. Streamlined Messaging Across Channels

• Manage TikTok Messaging Ads and direct messages alongside other popular channels like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
• Centralized communication ensures smoother workflows and scalability.

2. Enhanced Customer Experience

• Integration with CRMs and ERPs for efficient data management.
• AI and automation capabilities resolve 74% of conversations autonomously.
• Robust inbox for sales teams to engage with high-quality leads.

3. Improved Productivity for SMEs

• Reduces reliance on manual processes, minimizing human errors.
• Addresses worker shortages and productivity challenges in the APAC region, where SMEs dominate the market.
• By 2026, half of SMEs in APAC are expected to adopt generative AI-based applications.

Empowering SMEs in the APAC Region and Beyond

• APAC’s competitive consumer market relies heavily on TikTok as a key communication channel.
• Respond.io’s solution addresses scaling limitations faced by SMEs while enhancing customer engagement.
• The platform’s automation features allow businesses to do more with less, saving time and resources.

Statements from Respond.io Leadership

• Gerardo Salandra, CEO and Co-Founder of respond.io:
  “In today’s digital-first economy, businesses face immense pressure to maximize efficiency. Our TikTok integration helps SMEs streamline operations, resolve inquiries faster, and deliver superior customer experiences. By integrating TikTok Messaging Ads with our platform, we empower SMEs to achieve growth while navigating economic challenges.”

Global Rollout of TikTok Messaging Ads Integration

• Open beta launched in the APAC region, followed by Latin America.
• Plans for global availability to empower SMEs worldwide with cutting-edge automation.
• Reinforces respond.io’s commitment to enabling businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.

Respond.io’s AI-powered solution for TikTok Messaging Ads is a game-changer for SMEs, providing a centralized, efficient, and scalable platform for managing customer interactions. With advanced automation and integration capabilities, this innovation positions SMEs to overcome growth barriers, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional customer experiences in the digital-first era.