Kenshoo names new MD to accelerate APAC biz footprint

By Digital News Asia December 20, 2013

Michel van Woudenberg named managing director for APJ region
Former Oracle executive tasked with continuing global expansion plans

Kenshoo names new MD to accelerate APAC biz footprint DIGITAL marketing technology company Kenshoo has announced the appointment of Michel van Woudenberg (pic) as managing director, Asia Pacific Japan (APJ).

The former vice president of CRM (customer relationship management) at Oracle Asia Pacific is tasked with leading Kenshoo’s continued global expansion by capitalising on the tremendous opportunity in the world’s second largest digital advertising market to deliver solutions for search, social, mobile, local and cross-channel attribution.

This marks the second former Oracle executive the company has brought on board, following the October appointment of Rob Coyne, who has held senior positions at global software companies, SAP and Oracle, to the role of managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Van Woudenberg will report to senior vice president of revenue, Ted Krantz, joining a rapidly growing team already responsible for considerable growth of Kenshoo’s client base in Asia since the company first established a regional presence in 2009.

Krantz said that Kenshoo began planning for the globalisation of digital marketing half a decade ago and has had dedicated resources in China, Japan, and Australia for many years.

“Michel [Van Woudenberg] brings the type of leadership and focus Kenshoo needs to rally around our premier clients in Asia Pacific. We continue to scale rapidly around the world to keep pace with the growing demand for advanced marketing optimisation solutions, and his background makes him well equipped to take our APAC operations to this next level,” he added.

Commenting on his appointment, Van Woudenberg said that few technology companies possess the track record of client excellence that Kenshoo currently boasts of, both globally and in Asia Pacific.

“It’s rare to have the opportunity to join a company with multiple products rated as best-in-class and I’m excited to take the Kenshoo solution to market and raise the bar for client success even higher,” he added.

Kenshoo was recently named the sole leader in a Social Ad Platforms evaluation by independent research firm, Forrester Research Inc in the report, The Forrester Wave: Social Advertising Platforms, Q4 2013 after previously being named the sole leader in the The Forrester Wave, Bid Management Platforms, Q4 2012.

The agency’s portfolio of clients include Cellz, Covario, eBay Enterprise, Expedia, Dentsu, G-mei, Ikon Communications, iREP, Performics, Reprise, Resolution Media, and Starcom MediaVest Group.