Facebook Begins Investing In News Content

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Originally published at VideoInk.

It’s official, Facebook will be paying a select list of news publishers to create content for the company’s video platform, Watch. While there have been murmurs about the social media giant upping its efforts to produce premium, reliable news content (especially after being heavily criticized for allowing the spread of fake news during the 2016 election), the company confirmed the rumors today in a blog post.

“Earlier this year we made a commitment to show news that is trustworthy, informative, and local on Facebook,” wrote Campbell Brown, Facebook’s Head of Global News Partnerships. “As a part of that commitment, we are creating a dedicated section within Watch for news shows produced exclusively for Facebook by news publishers.”

It’s unknown how much the social media giant will be paying the publications, which include ABC, CNN, Fox News, Univision, ATTN:, and Mic. When the company first launched its Watch tab in August 2017, it was reportedly paying publishers somewhere between $10k to $250k per series to fund content, according to Reuters who cited sources close to the company.

But even with the funding, will anyone watch the new news content? When Facebook first launched its Watch tab, its premium content experienced massive growth followed by a massive drop. A&E’s Watch Series “Bae or Bail,” for example, garnered over 30 million views on its first episode, but its next four consecutive shows didn’t touch three million. The same happened with Bunim/Murray Production’s “Ball in the Family.” After the first episode accumulated over 26 million views, its next several episodes achieved less than three million.

Luckily for the company, news is relevant to a wider audience than a reality TV show where couples play pranks on each other (“Bae or Bail”).  The push into premium news content also comes at a time when younger generations are spending less time on Facebook. Recent data from the Pew Research Center found that roughly half (51 percent) of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 use Facebook, when just a few years ago that number stood at 71 percent.  With older generations slowly migrating to Facebook and younger generations leaving, news content could prove more successful than the company’s last effort in original content.

The upcoming programming, which is expected to launch this summer, could also be the push needed to shift the viewing habits of older generations from broadcast to social media. Additionally, It could be an effective way for news networks like Fox and CNN to reach younger (24-50) audiences.  According to recent data from Nielsen Media Research, in 2017 CNN’s median age was 60, while the median age of the Fox News was 65.  With Facebook having over 100 million users ages 25-44, the social media site is the perfect place to attract younger viewers.

Greyhound Launches New Campaign Aimed At Young Travelers

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Greyhound is updating its brand image to appeal to younger travelers by partnering for social media content and its first TV campaign in nearly two decades.

“You Don’t Have to Go Far to Go Far” highlights US city-specific activities that can be reached by Greyhound bus at a low price. The campaign will include customized videos for each of its 17 major markets including New Orleans, Fresno and Cleveland that focus on experiences to be had.

To help convey the intended message of adventure and discovery, Greyhound will launch partnered content this month with travel site Matador Network and Vice.

This new campaign marks the first time Greyhound has run ads on TV in nearly 20 years, with spots running on local network and cable channels including Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, Bravo, BET, Cooking Channel, ESPN and MTV.

For “You Don’t Have to Go Far to Go Far,” Greyhound will also invest in online video, digital radio, display ads, paid search, out-of-home, mobile, social media, native advertising and influencer content publishers. The campaign is expected to run through March 2019.

“Our goal with this campaign was to challenge the perception that you need to travel far away or spend a lot of money to have an unforgettable experience,” said Darrin Rowe, senior director of marketing, Greyhound Lines, Inc. in a statement.

The century-old transportation brand began updating its image in 2007 when the company was acquired by FirstGroup. Greyhound upgraded its terminals and buses with a new logo and features like power outlets, reclining leather seats and extra legroom. At that time, the brand debuted a new ad campaign targeting 18 to 24-year-olds and Hispanic demographic.

Last year, Greyhound began offering e-tickets that users can order with their mobile phones, similar to how airlines offer boarding passes through mobile apps.

Other legacy brands are catering to the social network savvy “millennial traveler” by giving themselves an image overhaul or creating brand offshoots.

Last year, Air France launched a new airline called Joon that focuses on digital technology onboard and Marriott introduced Moxy—an experience-driven hotel brand that partners with local hotspots and offers in-house entertainment like concerts and improv comedy.

Corona ‘Trashes’ Their Own Ads For World Oceans Day

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Corona has launched a cause marketing campaign leading up to World Oceans Day and the coming week that adds plastic trash to its own advertisements.

World Oceans Day is June 8 and spirits brand Corona, which uses the beach in its advertisements, decided to disrupt its own brand messaging to make a statement about pollution. Corona partnered with environmental activist group Parley for the Oceans to alter a series of existing ad campaigns and convey a message of trouble in paradise.

The World Surf League, sponsored by Corona, changed its name from “Corona Bali Pro” to “Corona Bali Pro-tected” as part of a five-year action plan to help Bali address its mounting problem of ocean pollution.

“As a brand that is synonymous with the beach, we are seeing the destruction of shorelines and oceans up close,” Felipe Ambra, global vice president of Corona said in a statement. “Our ads usually showcase paradise the way we assume it to be, pristine and beautiful, but today it’s increasingly hard to find a beach without plastic.”

In 2016, Corona launched a campaign called “This Is Living” that depicts picturesque beach and other outdoor settings, along with a bottle of Corona beer. Ahead of World Oceans Day, Corona is adding plastic trash to these outdoor images, as well as a question mark to the campaign slogan.

Corona has also installed billboards in London, Melbourne, Santiago, Bogota, Santo Domingo and Lima that depict actor Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok) surfing with the slogan “From where you’d rather be.” The brand then gathered plastic from nearby beaches to build sculptures on top of the billboards, transforming the blue ocean surf a “wave of waste.” A question mark was added to the slogan with the hope of spreading awareness.

The Australian installation weighs 1,500 kg (around 3,306 lbs), which is equal to the amount of plastic that enters Australia’s oceans each day, Corona said. In London and Melbourne, people can drop off their own plastic pollutants at the site of the billboard to be added to the plastic installation.

Parley for the Oceans and Corona have partnered to offer a series of limited-edition Hawaiian-style shirts that are made from recycled plastic. At first glance, the shirts feature traditional paradise imagery like ocean waves and fish but upon closer inspection, the design is made up of everyday plastic litter such as toothbrushes and plastic bottles. The shirt is being promoted by Hemsworth, with proceeds benefiting Parley for the Oceans’ conservation efforts.

Farfetch Appoints Ronojoy Dam As Creative Brand Director, And Other Hires

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This week: Farfetch expands its branding team and Nitro Games undergoes executive management changes.

Farfetch Appoints Ronojoy Dam Creative Brand Director

Ronojoy Dam has joined online fashion retailer Farfetch as its creative brand director, seeking to push forward the brand’s global marketing voice.

Previously, Dam served as group creative director for Dazed Media, working for both the brand’s media titles and its in-house brand studio.

Mikko Kähärä Departs From Nitro Games As CMO

Nitro Games is going through executive changes, with chief marketing officer Mikko Kähärä departing for personal reasons. Additionally, Jussi Immonen is joining as chief operating officer.

Kähärä had been with Nitro games since 2015, first joining the company as COO.

“I’m happy to welcome Jussi Immonen to join our story. With these changes in our management, I’m positive we’re bringing our capabilities to a new level, especially in self-publishing,” said Jussi Tähtinen, CEO and co-founder of Nitro Games. “During last five years, Immonen has been launching and operating more than ten free-to-play games, and this brings a ton of valuable experience for us. I’m also positive that what we’ve built so far is a good basis for him to continue working on.”

The Rest Of The C-Suite

Editor’s Note: Our weekly careers post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, June 1. Have a new hire tip? We’re looking for senior executive role changes in marketing and media. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

Caroline Pay Joins Headspace As Chief Creative Officer

Departing from Grey London, Caroline Pay is signing on with meditation-technology firm Headspace as its chief creative officer.

“Headspace is one of the world’s most differentiated, important and socially mission-driven brands,” Pay said to The Drum. “So being given the responsibility to guide its exciting future with groundbreaking branded content, storytelling and entertainment is a challenge I enthusiastically embrace, especially considering it’s such a remarkable chance to have a lasting, measurable impact on the lives of people everywhere.”

Pay has served as Grey London’s chief creative officer since March of 2017.

Box Appoints Sue Barsamian To Board Of Directors

Cloud content management company Box has elected Sue Barsamian to its board of directors to enhance the marketing expertise of the company’s leadership.

With more than 30 years of leadership experience driving global sales and go-to-market strategy in the enterprise software industry, Sue is a great addition to our Board of Directors,” said Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box. “We believe her strong experience ranging from Hewlett Packard Enterprise to Mercury Interactive will be extremely valuable as Box continues to scale and power the digital workplace for the largest and most regulated enterprises in the world.”

Barsamian currently serves as executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer for Micro Focus, a split-off from HPE Software.

LG Names David VanderWaal Senior Vice President Of Marketing

David VanderWaal has been promoted at LG Electronics USA, achieving the rank of senior vice president of marketing, to oversee advertising, consumer research, sponsorships and insights for the company’s home entertainment, appliance and mobile verticals.

VanderWaal has been with the electronics manufacturer for over a decade, first joining in 2007 to lead its in-store marketing efforts and rising to the level of marketing vice president in 2015.

Greg Glenday Joins Adspace As CEO

Adspace has appointed former Shazam chief revenue officer Greg Glenday to fill the role of chief executive officer.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Greg’s success and stature join our company.  He sees the great potential for connected, video-based players like Adspace to play an increasingly important role in the larger digital ecosystem,” said Peter Krieger, president and chief operating officer for Adspace. “Greg brings with him a proven track record of building strong sales and marketing teams and then guiding them to success, and we look forward to his leadership in helping Adspace take the next step in its growth trajectory.”

At Shazam, Glenday helped oversee the company’s sale to Apple in addition to leading its strategy, marketing and revenue operations.

Matterport Appoints Chris Bell CMO

Immersive 3D media tech firm Matterport has brought on Chris Bell as chief marketing officer to oversee the company’s shift in focus toward content marketing.

“As we continue to expand into more industries and more countries, we are thrilled to welcome Chris to our team and look forward to leveraging his unparalleled media technology experience to help us engage our customers and further scale our business globally,” stated Matterport CEO Bill Brown. “His passion for helping companies reach their full potential will be valuable to us as we leverage our unique platform to improve how people make decisions about properties through their entire lifecycle.”

Previously, Bell served at Apple as its head of worldwide marketing and product management for iTunes.

Hexindai Brings On Zecheng Wang As CMO

Consumer lending marketplace Hexindai is hiring Zecheng Wang to the role of chief marketing officer.

“I am very pleased to welcome Zecheng to Hexindai’s senior management team,” commented Mr. Xinming Zhou, CEO of Hexindai. “Zecheng’s extensive track record and proven marketing and technology leadership experience will make him a valuable addition. I look forward to working closely with him going forward to further increase trust in our platform and strengthen our brand equity.”

Wang most recently served as vice president and general manager of marketing at Yi Cheng Yi Jia Internet Technology Company.

Reed Exhibitions Appoints Rob Weinstein Vice President Of Marketing

Former head of marketing for Men’s Journal Rob Weinstein has joined Reed Exhibitions as its vice president of marketing for ReedPOP West.

“I am really excited to have Rob on the Team,” said Ron Walden, the company’s group vice president. “Rob will bring tremendous knowledge and energy to the group, and to our effort to be the best versions of ourselves—enabling us to create immersive event experiences across the RX events.”

Weinstein spent six years at Men’s Journal, previously serving as brand development director at MAGIC.

Jordan Miller Joins Pura Naturals As Marketing Lead

Eco-friendly cleaning product manufacturer Pura Naturals has appointed Jordan Miller to aid in marketing, branding and packaging.

“Jordan has been instrumental in creating additional branding for our products, and his lengthy career in this segment brings much to the table for the company,” commented Robert Doherty, Pura Naturals CEO.

UPS Hires Kevin Warren As Chief Marketing Officer

Parcel delivery service UPS has hired Kevin Warren to lead its marketing efforts, under the title of CMO, also joining the company’s management committee.

“With unprecedented demand from consumer and business customers, it’s critical for UPS to have a savvy leader driving innovative new marketing programs that support one of world’s most trusted and respected brands,” said David Abney, UPS CEO. “Kevin brings a wealth of experience to UPS with a strong global growth focus across multiple disciplines. He will guide critically important marketing initiatives as we continue UPS’s transformation.”

Warren most recently served as executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Xerox, where he led the company’s channel strategy, salesforce and client engagement.

Kia Motors Appoints Michael Cole Chief Operating Officer

Michael Cole has joined Kia Motors America as its executive vice president and chief operating officer, where he will serve as the company’s central lead for sales, marketing, corporate and product planning efforts.

“Kia’s sales, market share and brand awareness increased dramatically across Europe under Michael Cole’s leadership and his wealth of knowledge and experience will serve our U.S. operations well as we continue to sharpen the focus on retail sales,” said Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia Motors America. “We have an aggressive slate of new and redesigned product launches scheduled for the next 18 months, and I look forward to working with Michael to increase demand for Kia’s award-winning vehicles in the United States.”

Cole had been with Kia Motors Europe since 2012, holding the same position and title.

Job Vacancies 

Brand Manager Apple Santa Clara, CA
VP, Sales & Marketing  Comcast Saint Paul, MN
Head of Brand Marketing, Waze Google New York, NY
VP Marketing Manager, Gamification  JPMorgan Chase New York, NY
SVP, Industry Marketing Salesforce San Francisco, CA
Brand Manager, Consumer Marketing Twitter Tokyo, Japan

Make sure to check back for updates on our jobs page.

Papa John’s Gives A Year Of Free Pizza To Mattress Shoppers

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Papa John’s is giving mattress shoppers free pizza for a year as part of a partnership with retailer Raymour and Flanigan.

From May 30 to June 13, customers who purchase a mattress from Raymour and Flanigan will receive a voucher for free Papa Johns pizza for a year. The offer is good on “most” mattresses, including Tempur-Pedic, Beautyrest, King Koil, Serta and others.

According to the Raymour and Flanigan promotional website, an alternate pizza provider will be offered to customers in Rochester, NY.

Neither brand offered an explanation for this unusual team-up, other than the campaign slogan, “Mattresses shouldn’t come in a box—pizzas do.” This is Papa John’s first partnership with a mattress retailer.

The 30-second video campaign attacks companies that offer mattresses online, shipping the product to consumers without allowing them to view them in a showroom. The clip shows a couple eating Papa John’s pizza and wondering why anyone would risk buying a mattress in a box that they have never seen before.

The global mattress market is expected to reach $43.1 billion by the year 2024, according to Transparency Market Research. Traditional retailers face mounting competition from direct to consumer brands like Purple, Leesa and others that target young consumers on a budget.

Direct-to -onsumer mattress brand Nectar Sleep claims to sell more than 1,000 mattresses per day and garnered revenues of $55 million during its first year.

As for Papa John’s, the company may be taking a hit on the price of pizza in order to return to the public’s good graces.

Papa John’s found itself under public scrutiny after its CEO John Schnatter voiced his concerns about NFL players staging a protest during the National Anthem. Papa John’s pulled the NFL logo off its boxes and commercials, but Schnatter apologized when stocks dropped 12 percent.

In February, Papa John’s announced that it will no longer be the official pizza for the NFL, after which stocks fell seven percent.

It Cannes Be Done: Mastering The Art Of Networking At Global Events

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Written By Rebecca Everts, general manager, digital marketing at Comexposium

Your storied industry career is thriving. You’ve any number of accomplishments to count and share. A long list of lessons learned and parlayed to others in your midst—your teams, clients, partners and others. Your opportunities continue to multiply. You can see your past, present and future clearly, with a sense of stability and path. Sound like you?

Well, let’s just take a minute and think about what factors into your living success story. Your upbringing? Of course. Education prior to entering the working world? Yes. Talent and skill? Sure. Your concrete accomplishments and feathers in the cap? Check. Reputation and integrity? If you are doing things right—absolutely. Assuming all of these things have played together to write your professional industry story, there is another underlying value that must be present and strong: your network. It’s your bedrock.

Networking in its truest sense is more than a roster of contacts. It’s an interconnected system that you have nurtured, kept warm, sparked with favors of your own, currencies exchanged over time, possibly even decades. And, it continues to yield. There is always a mixed art to this. Some of effective networking is innate; some is learned, from those whose ability in this area inspires you. Your chiefs, mentors, friends, peers.

But, for most of us, day in and day out—networking happens virtually via LinkedIn, email, social and other micro-communications or in the context of local, regional or national events, conferences and a flurry of circles tied to your work. And then comes Cannes.

So, what about the large global event—something of such scale and diversity—makes the imagination run wild with possibilities? Cannes has become a major global hub for our industry at the cross-roads of advertising, creative, media, technology and innovation, drawing worldwide attendees to the South of France. It’s teeming with contacts, relations, potential new business and partnerships—and there are a lot of yachts. There should be no greater networking opportunity to help spring your own network to the next level, come July, when Cannes wraps.

Before we head out to MMS Yacht @ Cannes, we thought we’d take a pause, before we all jet, to pinpoint the aspects of the art of networking in this global context. So, we asked several frequent Cannes goers—executives in media, entertainment and global business consulting for a little bit of advice. See how these resonate with you as you plan your week:

Creating Intimacy Amid The Noise

When the scene is so massive, you might have one of two reactions: 1) I am going to slay this thing. I will be everywhere, and bring home unimaginable bounty. 2) This is too huge. I will stick with “my people” in order to maintain focus. I’m sure it will work out. It usually does.

There is middle ground here. Seasoned global event (a la Cannes) goers will tell you it’s about creating or joining smaller gatherings, finding micro-touch points in the middle of it all. Your own way, if you will. It’s about having a plan and a specific, diverse dance card going in. “Cannes is about creativity and connections. For the latter, focus on small meetings versus mass forums, whether at a table on the Carlton Terrace, rosé on a Yacht or canapés, always remembering amid a distributed event of this scale, one-to-one conversations remain key,” wisely shares Sean Finnegan, partner, Chameleon Collective.

Balance Your Inner Circle With New Blood

The above advice on venturing out is not to dismiss the value of your known and friendly forces. But, the global event is to some extent about expanding your circles, using that known force for greater good. It’s important to rely on the people you know as foundational but devote real networking time to growing the branches of your network. Events like this are the perfect opportunity to transport your network to the next level.

“I’m never opposed to engaging someone new, but I’ve found that getting face time at a large event with an exec I want to meet becomes infinitely easier when there’s a friend that can make the intro for me. There’s just a trust there you can’t beat. A lot of times, I will not have even been looking for a new connection but it comes up in the natural flow of conversation when you discuss how you want to be in business with someone. Maybe I can’t help you with this, but I know someone who can. As a bit of an introvert, those select people in my inner circle who are well-plugged into the scene are invaluable. I think about this whenever in large networking situations like this—the connections between the two,” says Fred Lee from CJ E&M.

“Having a number of people you know will be there is a great ‘base camp’ to rely on. These are people you can meet up with at parties or screenings and socialize with, but they also have all of the people they know and are using as their own ‘base camp.’ It’s always far more beneficial to you to have a friend or colleague facilitate the introduction, even in a casual environment such as an after-party,” suggests Seana Diemer Iwanyk from Grey Matter Productions.

Let Your Reputation Precede You

With all the time you’ve spent tending to your network, it’s important to not lose sight of yourself in the noise. Be who you are, keep your integrity and don’t get caught up in the noise—always focusing on meaningful exchanges. Don’t let the dissonance of “it all happening” confuse your focus. Don’t chase fun. Be present in every conversation.

“In an era where purpose and mindfulness are the new normal, make sure to own and embrace the highest potential and authenticity of who you are. To get the most out of your experience, be present, engaged and look to have meaningful conversations. Yes, even in Cannes, this is possible!” Jessica Joines, founder & CEO, Consciousness Economy.

And finally, as you pack for your journey, it’s worth suggesting: pack light but well. Looking ahead to all the networking you will surely do and enjoy, keep focused in what you you plan to share, discuss, put out there, not packing and taking your whole spiel, repertoire or agenda.

“Cannes is an incredible place to connect because finally everyone is in the same four block radius and not worried about traffic on the 405. But, you must be much more targeted, concise and deliberate about the time you get with people. There is not a lot of room for idle chit-chat and general conversation. You should have a strategic plan of attack of what you want to say when you get in front of the people that can help you. Somewhere between an elevator pitch and a traditional pitch meeting. A ‘Cannes Pitch’ so to speak. Something that gets to point and shows you have a complete understanding of your idea without getting into the weeds. Unless of course they ask for the weeds and then you better be prepared for that as well. Basically, as always, be prepared for anything, but plan to be brief, compelling and unforgettable,” says Zack Parker founder of A 10 East Productions, producer of 2018 SXSW Best Narrative Feature Thunder Road.

Senior brand and agency marketers that will be attending Cannes Lions this year, request your exclusive VIP comp pass to the MMS Yacht @ Cannes Lions by clicking here. Once the application is submitted, you’ll receive confirmation of your status within 48 hours and choose from a selection of days between 6/18 and 6/22 where you’ll network in luxury with other marketing leaders.

See you by the seaside at MMS Yacht @ Cannes. We look forward to connecting there and sharing a little social art of the network, keeping some of the wise words from the frequent global goers above in mind.

Teenagers Prefer Snapchat, YouTube Over Facebook, Study Finds

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Teenagers in the US spend most of their time on Snapchat, Pew Research found, illustrating a shift in the social media landscape over the last three years.

Facebook is no longer the most popular social network for America’s youth, according to a new study by Pew Research. “Teens, Social Media and Technology 2018” examines the online habits of US teens between the ages of 13-17 based on surveys conducted in March and April of this year.

When ranking social media platforms US teenagers use the most, Snapchat is third on the list following YouTube and Instagram. However, 35 percent say they use Snapchat most often—more than any other social network.

Snapchat is appealing to more teenagers than three years ago, with 69 percent using the app in 2018 compared to 41 percent in Pew Research’s 2014-2015 survey. Despite general displeasure over the app’s redesign, the study shows that users are still willing to spend time on it.

Just over half—51 percent—of respondents say they use Facebook, compared to 71 percent in 2015. More teens are using Instagram than three years ago, however, at 72 percent compared to 52 percent.

YouTube is visited the most by teenagers in the 2018 study, at 85 percent, with 32 percent saying they use the site most often. Pew Research notes that YouTube was not listed as an option on its 2015 survey, so comparisons are not available.

“This shift in teens’ social media use is just one example of how the technology landscape for young people has evolved since the Center’s last survey of teens and technology use in 2014-2015,” said Pew Research alongside its findings.

Teenagers are more connected than three years ago, with 95 percent owning or having access to a smartphone. This constant access has 45 percent online almost constantly.

The shares of teens who use Twitter and Tumblr are largely comparable to the shares who did so in the last survey. Twitter users dropped one percent to 32 percent and Tumblr dropped from 14 to nine percent. Vine (RIP) was used by 24 percent of teens in 2015, but not included on this year’s survey for obvious reasons.

Michael Phelps Dives Into Mental Health Advocacy With Talkspace

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Champion swimmer Michael Phelps has partnered with online therapy provider Talkspace for a national TV campaign that addresses the stigma of mental illness.

Talkspace connects users with a licensed therapist that can be reached with a computer, tablet or smartphone. By sharing his story of depression and anxiety, Phelps said that he hopes to encourage others to seek help. In addition to being the Talkspace spokesman, Phelps is joining the company’s board of advisers to help direct the company’s ongoing strategy.

“[Phelp’s] deep knowledge of the mental health advocacy world, as well as his commitment to data-driven improvements in the field, will be invaluable to the Talkspace Advisory Board as we work to make Talkspace a key part of how people manage their mental health,” Talkspace CEO Oren Frank said in a statement.

Mental health has frequently risen to the top of public conversation in recent years, from demanding socialized healthcare access, a possible link to mass shootings and even the impact of social media usage. While the subject of mental illness has become more commonplace, stigmas and misconceptions still exist.

The biggest message that Talkspace wants to impart is that depression can happen to anyone. Michael Phelps said that in 2014, he “lost all hope,” despite becoming one of the world’s most successful athletes.

In his TV spot, Phelps said that after spending five days in his room and contemplating death, the decision to seek therapy saved his life. The spot was released in time for the end of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month.

A number of brands have used cause marketing to spread awareness of mental health issues and encourage consumers to seek help when needed.

Last year, Instagram started a campaign called #HereForYou that highlights users that have created mental health communities on the platform. A video highlights three users who share their struggles and stress the importance of reaching out for support.

Each January in Canada, Bell hosts a fundraiser to raise money for mental health services in the country. For every use of the hashtag #BellLetsTalk, Bell donates five cents to a mental health organization in the region and keeps the conversation going on social media throughout the year.

Study: Live Trivia Apps Connect Brands With Highly-Engaged Users

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Live trivia apps like HQ Trivia, Cash Show, The Q and Beat the Q are creating opportunities for advertisers, according to an upcoming report by Magid.

Magid’s 2018 Mobile Lifestyle study, which will be released in June, asked 2,500 mobile users about their participation in streaming games “such as HQ Trivia.” They found that 63 percent were aware of such games, with 29 percent having played in the last month.

The top reasons for using live trivia apps is to test their knowledge, pass the time and win real money, the report found. Among respondents who play online streaming games at least once a week, 37 percent play to win exclusive prizes.

Nike became one of HQ Trivia’s first sponsors in March, offering a shared $100,000 prize and limited edition Air Max shoes to the 100 winners. A few days later, Warner Bros. sponsored the app’s largest prize pool to date—$250,000—to promote the release of Ready Player One.

While Magid’s survey did not ask about sponsors in particular, the analyst firm says that interactive games create an “authentic engagement opportunity” for brands.

“The proactive engagement that the consumer has with a livestream game makes it a very compelling advertising platform,” Jill Rosengard Hill, executive vice president of Magid told AListDaily.

HQ Trivia hosts games for just 15 minutes at a time twice a day and simultaneously engages two million people.

“It’s much more akin to the live tune-in of a major event like the finale of The Voice or American Idol,” Hill pointed out. “To have two million people tune in promptly at the [same time] is incredible. It’s what television networks spend millions of dollars promoting to drive tune-ins to a program. And yet, a livestreaming app with very little advertising is driving in between 1-2 million people a night to this common social-cultural experience. It’s fascinating.”

Hill also draws attention to how engaged users are while participating with live trivia apps. Unlike TV, during which many viewers multitask, trivia requires a user’s full attention if they hope to win.

“The ROI on engaging with HQ for 15 minutes for the consumers is very high, therefore the advertiser has a greater opportunity in engaging the consumer because of their active, short engagement with the HQ content,” said Hill.

Magid found that among respondents who played livestreaming games, 71 percent were between the ages of 18-34, skew male at 55 percent and at 64 percent, are more likely to have children in the home. These live trivia game participants tend to educated and employed full-time, Magid also found. In fact, 41 percent of those who played live streaming games within the last 30 days claim a household income of $75,000 or more. Fifty-four percent are college graduates and 56 percent hold full-time jobs.

Carhartt Hires Janet Ries, Guitar Center Hires Erica Moran As Marketing Vice Presidents, And Other Hires

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This week: Carhartt and Guitar Center find new marketing vice presidents, BET CEO Debra Lee steps down and Massive Interactive poaches talent from Verizon’s Go90.

Carhartt Taps Janet Ries For Vice President Of Marketing

Seeking to align brand management, communications, strategic partnerships and community affairs, Janet Ries has joined Carhartt as its vice president of marketing.

“Janet’s strong track record of championing successful brand-building ideas and bringing them to market through cross-functional teams makes her the ideal person for the position,” said Tony Ambroza, the company’s chief brand officer. “As the key connector inside and outside of marketing, Janet will be responsible for ensuring the Carhartt brand is meaningful across every consumer experience. We’re extremely excited to have her on board.”

Ries previously worked at Rockport, where she held the title of vice president of global marketing.

Guitar Center Brings On Erica Moran As Vice President Of Marketing

Musical instrument retailer Guitar Center has appointed Erica Moran to the position of vice president of marketing.

Moran joins the company after serving as a retail and digital marketing consultant for ACIRE Consulting Group, and serves on the board of the CRMC Retail Advisory Council.

Debra Lee Steps Down As BET CEO

After thirty years at BET Networks, Debra Lee is resigning from her position as chairman and CEO.

“Debra’s vision and creativity have cemented BET Networks as a premier network for African Americans and lovers of black culture,” said Bob Bakish, Viacom’s CEO. “As BET continues to move forward, we will always be grateful to Debra for her leadership and commitment to creating top-notch entertainment that both entertains and empowers. Her passion for the BET brand has resulted in countless wins and has allowed BET to stay competitive in a growing media landscape.”

Lee first joined the TV network in 1986, serving as its vice president and general counsel. She reached her current position in 2005.

Chip Canter Joins Massive Interactive As Chief Revenue Officer

Set to manage the company’s sales, business development and marketing growth strategy, Chip Canter has signed on with Massive Interactive as its chief revenue officer.

“Few people understand our market landscape and technology environment like Chip does,” Massive CEO Ron Downey said to Variety. “He has dealt with the pressures faced by OTT businesses and has firsthand experience working with global media companies.”

Previously, Canter led Verizon’s Go90 mobile video service.

Canadian Marketing Association Elects Aldo Cundari Chairman

Chairman and CEO of Cundari Group Aldo Cundari has been elected to the position of board chair for the Canadian Marketing Association.

“CMA’s Board of Directors continue to elevate the marketing profession across this country,” said John Wiltshire, CMA’s president and CEO. “Our new Board Members broaden our regulatory and corporate perspectives while enhancing the association’s profile.”

The Rest Of The C-Suite

Editor’s Note: Our weekly careers post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, May 25. Have a new hire tip? We’re looking for senior executive role changes in marketing and media. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

Porsche Taps Colas Henckes For Marketing Director

Porsche Cars is passing executives around the world, sending Canadian marketing director Margareta Mahlstedt to perform the same task for its Great British office, and bringing Colas Henckes from France to replace them.

“We are delighted to welcome Colas to Canada,” said Marc Ouayoun, president & CEO of Porsche Cars Canada. “We’ve had the opportunity to work together several years in France and he is very well positioned to tackle this new challenge. With his expertise in Motorsport, experiential events and social media, he is poised to pursue the excellent work that Margareta Mahlstedt has executed in this role.”

Henckes has held the position of marketing director for Porsche France since 2008, previously working as the company’s press and public relations officer.

Vince Sadusky Reportedly Joining Univision As CEO

According to reports by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, Vince Sadusky is set to replace Randy Falco in the driver’s seat at Univision. The move comes as the company reversed its decision to file for an IPO in March, following Falco’s planned retirement after seven years as CEO.

The company has declined to comment on the story.

Sadusky has previously served as CEO of Media General, as well as CFO of Telemundo Communications.

TMS Hires Laura Kirchner As Marketing Senior Vice President

Financial services company TMS has brought on Laura Kirchner as senior vice president of marketing strategy and innovation.

“Laura is going to propel our team to even greater heights. She’s a one-of-a-kind digital superstar,” said TMS chief marketing officer Barbara Yolles. “She’s adept at leading everything from re-architecting business models to digital go-to-market strategies. She can even roll up her sleeves and code websites!”

Kirchner previously worked at Perficient, where she held the role of managing director of client services.

Hulu Brings On Ryan Crosby And Nick Tran As Marketing Vice Presidents

Hulu is expanding its stable of marketers, appointing both Ryan Crosby and Nick Train to the executive positions of vice president of content marketing and vice president of brand and culture marketing, respectively. While Crosby will focus on promoting the streaming service’s slate of programming, Tran will take charge of more broad-reaching branding campaigns.

“During a critical time for Hulu, we’re excited to bring in two new vice presidents to anchor our brand and content-marketing teams,” Kelly Campbell, Hulu’s chief marketing officer, said to Variety. “Ryan Crosby and Nick Tran are tremendous leaders with proven track records, who will join Hulu’s talented marketing team to lead the next evolution of our Hulu brand promise and content marketing campaigns.”

Crosby joins Hulu from Netflix, where he served as its director of global creative marketing. Tran most recently served at Samsung Electronics as head of brand culture.

Luis De La Camara Joins Outplay Entertainment As Vice President Of Global Marketing

Formerly a marketing director for King’s Candy Crush Saga, Luis De La Camara has joined fellow mobile game developer Outplay Entertainment as its vice president of global marketing. In the role, he will work on the studio’s projects from the ground up, as well as handle customer support.

“Traditionally marketing is seen as an effort that lies at the end of the development process of a product, but to me marketing should be an integral part of the product’s design, especially in the games-as-a-service business,” De La Camara stated. “Understanding your customer, designing optimal experiences, and creating products they fall in love with, should be the focus of any business.”

De La Camara has worked in the video games industry for over a decade, and at King he led the team’s CRM and social media marketing efforts.

“I’m looking forward to having his experience, talent, and leadership help propel us to our next level of growth and success,” said Outplay CEO Douglas Hare.

Constellation Brands Promotes Jim Sabia To CMO

Adult beverage company Constellation has created the role of executive vice president and chief marketing officer, tapping Jim Sabia to fill the position.

“Our company’s core mission is to build brands consumers love and Jim has been a driving force behind the success of our beer brands over the years,” said Bill Newlands, Constellation’s president and chief operating officer. “It is critically important that the voice of the consumer and brand-building principles have strong representation on our executive leadership team. In this new role, Jim will help ensure that consumer perspective and marketing strategy remain front and center at Constellation Brands across our entire beverage alcohol portfolio.”

Previously, Sabia served as chief marketing officer for the company’s beer vertical, a role he has held since 2009.

Repsly Hires Peter Billante As Chief Product Officer

Marketing software provider Repsly has appointed Peter Billante as its chief product officer, and will lead both the company’s software and marketing teams.

“Repsly has been on the fast track for growth for several quarters now, and we’re thrilled to build on that momentum by having Pete’s product innovation skills and tactical leadership capabilities”, said Mat Brogie, Repsly’s CEO. “Pete’s track record at multiple high-growth companies is the perfect complement to the rapid acceleration Repsly is experiencing right now.”

Billante has spent 25 years in the software industry, most recently serving as senior manager and head of marketing for Autodesk’s BIM 360 product.

Accruit Appoints Larry Drury As Marketing Lead

Financial technology firm Accruit has hired Larry Drury to lead the company’s growth marketing efforts.

“We are pleased to have Larry join us as we enhance our marketing capabilities and chart the next chapter of growth for Accruit,” said Accruit CEO Brent Abrahm. “Larry is initially focused on marketing efforts related to our most recent acquisition, PaySAFE, a service that helps buyers and sellers confidently complete financial transactions.”

Drury most recently served as chief marketing officer at Vantiv, and prior to that worked at First Data, again as CMO.

Kimberly-Clark Names Giusy Buonfantino Chief Marketing Officer

Consumer packaged goods conglomerate Kimberly-Clark has appointed Giusy Buonfantino to the role of chief marketing officer.

“Giusy has a tremendous track record in brand building, product innovation and customer development, and her insight on consumers has helped us to build our trusted brands across multiple categories,” said Palmer. “In the role of chief marketing officer, Giusy is well positioned to lead our global marketing organization and drive enduring and profitable share growth.”

Buonfantino has been with Kimberly-Clark since 2011, first joining as vice president of global adult and feminine care brands.

Sundial Brands Appoints Kimberly Evans Paige Chief Operating And Brand-Building Officer

Skin- and hair-care manufacturer Sundial Brands has created the position of chief operating and brand-building officer, tapping Kimberly Evans Paige to fill the role.

“As we continue to experience and plan for future robust growth, it became clear that we needed to create a role that would help ensure that we are appropriately positioned and resourced for our next phase,” Richelieu Dennis, Sundial Brands executive chairman. “It was even more clear to us that the right partner to help scale the work we have done is Kimberly Paige. Her unique combination of analytical and creative prowess, cultural sensibilities and her passion for people and purpose-driven companies make her a natural fit for Sundial.”

Paige joins the company from Coty, another cosmetic company, where she served as chief marketing officer.

Confused.com Hires Sam Day As Chief Marketing Officer

Financial services website Confused.com has brought on Sam Day as chief marketing officer, following the departure of previous CMO Paul Troy.

“Sam has a proven track record for delivering successful and profitable marketing strategies and his appointment is critical to our success for communicating that Confused.com is the place for drivers to save money on motoring,” Louise O’Shea, Confused.com’s CEO, said to The Drum. “We’ve planned our route, we know where we’re going, and Sam’s appointment will strengthen our leadership team and help us to win the race.”

Day most recently served as director of customer acquisition for RAC, an insurance firm.

Interstate Hotels And Resorts Appoints Mike Wylie Head Of E-Commerce

Hotel management firm Interstate has hired Mike Wylie as its head of e-commerce, seeking to expand its digital presence.

“Hiring thought leaders such as Mike is a crucial strategy to give us a competitive advantage,” said Mike Deitemeyer, president and CEO of Interstate Hotels and Resorts. “With 20-years in digital marketing, his experience will propel us ahead of the industry, driving innovative growth and impacting global distribution.”

Wylie most recently worked at Standing Dog Initiative, a digital marketing agency.

Viacom Names Pamela Kaufman President Of Global Consumer Products 

Currently Nickelodeon’s chief marketing officer, Pamela Kaufman is being promoted to the role of president of global consumer products, where she will oversee Viacom’s conglomerate of media brands’ licensing and merchandising operations.

“Expanding and diversifying our consumer products businesses around the world is a key strategic initiative that will help drive Viacom’s future growth,” said Bob Bakish, Vicaom’s CEO. “The exceptional leadership and vision Pam has demonstrated at Nickelodeon make her a natural fit for this exciting new position, and her appointment will accelerate our efforts in building this important global business.”

Kaufman, in addition to serving as CMO for Nickelodeon, worked as president of consumer products as well.

NCC Media Appoints Nicolle Pangis President And CEO

Comcast, Cox and Turner have collectively announced the appointment of Nicolle Pangis as president and CEO of its joint media sales firm NCC Media. In the role, Pangis will oversee the company’s efforts to grow its roster of brand partnerships.

“NCC has an excellent reputation in the linear ad space, and will now extend that leadership position into the advanced ad business,” said David Kline, executive vice president and president of media sales at Charter Communications. “Nicolle, now armed with premium multi-screen television content, great viewership insights and the scale required to deliver on advertisers needs combined with her past experiences in programmatic digital is the perfect combination needed to drive NCC to great heights.”

Prior to joining NCC Media, Pangis served as global chief operating officer at GroupM’s data unification initiative, [m] PLATFORM.

Barnaby Dawe Retires As Just Eat’s Chief Marketing Officer

After three years at the helm of Just Eat’s marketing department, Barnaby Dawe has announced his departure from the company.

“Barnaby has transformed the Just Eat brand and our approach to marketing, enabling us to become the category-leading company we are today,”  a company spokesperson told The Drum.

Before his tenure at Just Eat, Dawe worked with such brands as Harper Collins, News UK and Turner.

Job Vacancies 

VP, Partner Marketing  Pandora Oakland, CA
Head of Global Product Marketing Jagex Cambridge, United Kingdom
Head of Partner Marketing, UK Netflix London, United Kingdom
VP, Marketing Disney New York, NY
VP, Product Marketing Salesforce San Francisco, CA
Brand Marketing Manager Foot Locker New York, NY

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