Sizmek appoints new APAC general manager

By Digital News Asia May 16, 2017

Responsible for managing the company’s operations across the Asia-Pacific region
New configuration encourages increased accountability throughout the organisation

Sizmek appoints new APAC general manager

SIZMEK, a people-based creative optimisation and data activation platform delivering impressions that inspire, on May 16 announced that advertising technology executive, Kees de Jong (pic) has been appointed general manager of its APAC operations.

The company said de Jong will be responsible for managing the company’s operations across the Asia-Pacific region, including customer engagement, sales development and innovation, strategic planning, and revenue growth.

“In the near future all media will be consumed digitally, which means it will be one hundred percent addressable,” said de Jong.

“I believe media and advertising will move beyond ad-serving and focus on truly understanding the combination effect of media, audiences, data and creative.”

de Jong is an experienced business builder in tech-and service-based environments and, most recently, consulted for large media, tech and data companies.

He has previously held senior management positions at Facilitate Digital (now Adslot) in Australia, and ran the company’s European operations for two years before establishing the programmatic buying capability for GroupM Australia (now Xaxis).

He was employee number one for Xaxis in Australia, creating the business in January 2011, and rolling out the GroupM-owned demand side platform across Australia.

De Jong was instrumental in creating the Xaxis technology, product and data stack for the company, and building a team of eighteen people in a two year period.

In the past few years De Jong has consulted to numerous media owners, data, technology and television companies in the areas of programmatic TV, and data-enabled media strategies.

“The APAC market is changing rapidly and it’s critical to be able to demonstrate innovation and better solve clients’ business problems,” said de Jong.

“A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work, and that strategy rarely satisfies customers at scale. I’m incredibly pleased to have this opportunity, and look forward to strengthening Sizmek’s presence and operational efficiency in Asia.”

Sizmek also said it’s restructuring its organisation to allow for a general manager-defined structure, to provide clients with bespoke and effective customer service.

This configuration encourages increased accountability throughout the organisation, as it grants P&L responsibility to all regions. This business structure promotes ownership and entrepreneurship, allowing for nimble decision making at the local-level.

In addition, Sizmek announced digital advertising industry veteran, Volker Hatz will join the company as its global chief data officer (CDO). Hatz will oversee the company’s data business including data governance solutions, analytics initiatives and innovation.

Hatz brings over 20 years of experience in IT and advertising technology to Sizmek. Prior, he was global head of SAP XM DMP Solution at SAP Exchange Media.

“I believe Volker’s and Kees’ strong leadership and innovative thinking will further showcase how Sizmek’s creativity, data and technology are changing the way our customers inspire their audiences to action,” said Sizmek executive chairman Mark Grether.

“Together they bring a proven track record of success, and will bolster our company’s growth. Our expanding team and capabilities, as well as our new corporate structure, ladder back to creating impressions that inspire, and ensure agency and brand partners have increasing ROI across channels.”