Network Forum EU II

AdMonsters, the on-line advertising industry’s only professional association exclusively dedicated to operations and technology, will be hosting a new, one-day forum in London on January 21, 2010 specifically tailored for those who run or manage ad ops and technology teams at networks.

Over the last 10 years, AdMonsters has proved an invaluable resource for senior leaders in publisher operations in both the US and in Europe and for the first time we will be hosting applying our unique formula to forum specifically designed to address the particular needs of ad networks and exchanges.

Unlike other, larger, events, everything we do is led by those who are closest to the operations and technology side of the on-line advertising industry. This unique focus allows our members to get serious work done at the forum and return to their offices with specific, actionable tasks that have an immediate positive impact on their ability to deliver effectively and efficiently. Members quickly build up a large network of peers on whom they can rely to answer questions and with whom they can collaborate, long after the forums are complete.

Overview

It is the era of ad networks. Various reports tell of publishers with 60-70% of their display inventory being turned over to networks. A Collective Media Survey found 89% of respondents would be using networks in 2009.

It’s clear that the importance of networks to the online advertising industry has grown from the efficiencies they offer both advertisers and publishers in streamlining the buying and selling of display advertising. That coupled with the targeting capabilities networks have developed have made networks one of the most important topics in online advertising.

Networks however have a myriad of operational issues to contend with. Many of these issues mirror those of publishers and agencies and some are unique to networks themselves. In many ways, network operations leaders are on the cutting edge of the industry mirroring what the very first publishers and agencies to traffick online ads had to contend with.

It’s in that spirit that AdMonsters has developed the first event of its kind to focus specifically on the operational issues of managing networks. The Network Ad Ops Forum is a one day designed for operation leaders at networks, publishers and agencies to gather in AdMonsters unique format to discuss issues specific to them and to look at ways to address operational challenges as well as share best practices on helping their respective companies generate efficiencies and most importantly revenue.

If you are responsible for the operations aspects of an online network, you do not want to miss this event.

Who should attend

The Network Ops Forum is designed to address the specific challenges of those responsible for managing advertising networks at media owners and agencies as well as ad networks themselves. All members are subject to approval by AdMonsters and, in order to qualify, should have at least a manager level position or or manage a specifc functional area within the operations or technology team (e.g. inventory, data, yield, optimisation, systems integration). A typical member profile is as follows:

• Works at an Advertising Network, Publisher, or Agency
• Has 5+ years experience in online advetising operations
• Manager or higher
• Decision maker within their organization
• Should be the most senior person within the team responsible for ad operations staffing and purchasing decisions
• Titles similar to: Director, Ad Operations; Commercial Director; Inventory & Yield Specialist; Network Operations Manager, etc.

Agenda & topics

Keynote address

Are You a Next Generation Network Ad Ops Leader?
George Odysseos – Head of Publisher Network and Finance at Tribal Fusion

More and more marketing budgets are poised to move online and everyone in the online advertising space – agencies, publishers, networks and exchanges – are positioning themselves to take as much of that budget as they can. This has resulted in companies expanding beyond their traditional roles as agencies and publishers to develop their own networks and exchanges to increase margins. What does this mean to networks and specifically to network ad operations? It means that they need to continue to push forward to provide both new revenue and new efficiencies for their companies.  These “next generation” networks are going to have to be nimble and know how to work with others who are both partners and competitors at the same time. How well is your Ad Operations team positioned? George Odysseos, newly appointed Head of Publisher Network for Tribal Fusion EU will draw on his years of experience with Blue Lithium and Yahoo and his involvement with IASH to provide insight into the current online advertising ecosystem, where it is going and what Ad Operations leaders who manage and operate networks need to succeed in the future.

About George: George Odysseos is the newly appointed Head of Publisher Network for Tribal Fusion EU. A qualified Chartered Accountant, he entered the online media industry in 2000 joining a start up called Deal Group Media, a company specialising in Affiliate Marketing, Display Ad Networks and Search Marketing.

Following its listing on the AIM stock Exchange George took a break from the industry before re-entering in 2005 when he helped Tim Brown (Ex MD of 24/7 Real Media) launch Blue Lithium in Europe as Finance and Operations Director, in 2007 Blue Lithium was acquired by Yahoo and following it’s integration, George has held the position of EU Head of Media Buying.

He is now looking forward to helping Tribal Fusion establish itself as the next generation Display Ad Network.

Member Sessions

Addressing Ops issues with Content Safe Services
Federica Aperio, Managing Director @ Fox Networks Group

Whether you call them “content safe”, “brand security” or “content verification” services, the have emerged as a key issue facing network ad ops teams. Media buyers have begun to experiment with these types of solutions and it’s important that publishers and networks be proactive and understand how they can safeguard the delivery of their inventory to protect revenue streams and build business on the basis of being brand safe. This session will provide an overview of the various companies, their differing methodologies and recommendations for how network ad ops teams should work with them.

Expanding your Publisher Base
Joey van den Worm, International Publisher Director @ ClickDistrict

For many networks, expanding the number of publisher partners is the key to growing revenue. Continually adding publishers however creates a number of challenges for ad operations teams unless they have structured their resources and processes to accommodate additional partners. This presentation will outline strategies for working with an expanding number of publisher partners.

Location

The event will be located at 60 Cannon Street, London.