Real Media U.S. Launches Centrally-Served Version of Open AdStream
Ad network Real Media took the wraps off the U.S. version of its Open
AdStreamCENTRAL product this week, aiming to capitalize on what it said has
been wild success in Europe.
Open AdStreamCENTRAL is a fully hosted version of Real Media’s Open
AdStream 5.1 server, and provides inventory management, geographically based
targeting and ad caching.
Like all of Real Media’s ad serving products, its Open AdStreamCENTRAL
doesn’t pool users’ cookie information into a central, Web-wide database.
The company touts this as a selling point for publishers, who typically must
share their users’ anonymous information and surfing behavior with firms
like DoubleClick and Engage.
The company, which is majority owned by global traditional ad placement
giant PubliGroupe, said its European unit has seen sizable traction for Open
AdStreamCENTRAL, signing clients like Excite and News International.
Ticketmaster Taps Former Real Media CEO as Top Web Salesman
Event ticketing giant and Web publisher Ticketmaster has tapped
Christopher Neimeth as executive vice president for national sales.
The former president and chief executive of ad network Real Media will
spearhead what Los Angeles-based Ticketmaster described as an aggressive
national sales expansion.
In the new post, Neimeth will assume responsibility for all aspects of
national advertising sales and operations across Ticketmaster’s network of
properties. Neimeth also will oversee the development of new advertising
products and services for Ticketmaster, and will report to Ticketmaster’s
president and CEO, John Pleasants.
The company operates local events and information site Citysearch and
matchmaking site Match.com.
Prior to his tenure at Real Media, Neimeth also held positions at two New
York digital media startups. He was a founder and associate director at
Grey Interactive, and senior vice president for Internet advertising at The
New York Times Digital.
Responsys Receives $20 Million In Mezzanine Round Financing
Palo Alto, Calif.-based marketing technology firm Responsys landed
some serious change from venture capitalists this week.
The company received $20 million in a funding round led by Sigma
Partners, and including previous Responsys backers Accel Partners,
Foundation Capital, and Redpoint Ventures.
Through terms of the funding, Sigma Partners’ Gregory Gretsch joins the
board of directors of Responsys, which makes technology to personalize Web
content and ads based on consumer data.
Early last year, Responsys netted $22.5 million in financing from Accel,
Foundation, and Redpoint.
WebSideStory Nabs $3 Million
Web intelligence and traffic-measurement firm WebSideStory received
$3 million this week from private investment firms led by Westcliff Capital
Management.
The funding built on a $7.5 million investment from TA Associates and
Summit Partners several months earlier.
The additional funds will be used for general operating purposes at the
San Diego, Calif.-based company, according to WebSideStory president and CEO
John Hentrich.
Representatives from Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Westcliff touted
WebSideStory’s market share and technology as the reason for their
investment.
Owners Rebrand marchFIRST’s Salt Lake City Office
The dissolution of what onetime interactive services giant marchFIRST
continues, with its Salt Lake City office being bought out by private
investors.
As a result, the office has a new name — boede&partners — and a new
mission as an independent marketing agency.
Led by former Intel marketing figure Dave Boede, boede&partners said it
will specialize in creating integrated marketing programs. The firm provides
services including brand strategy, customer segmentation and profiling,
offline and online advertising, media planning and placement, lead
management, direct response, site design and field marketing.
The agency, which has about 40 employees, already serves a variety of B2B
and B2C companies through earlier relationships. Clients include WebMiles,
Volera and CenterBeam.
In addition to Boede, who will serve as president, the agency’s
management team includes six partners: Merri Lee Barton, media services;
Lori Feld, customer relationship marketing; Steve Grigg, creative director;
Kelly Hindley, brand intelligence; Scott Kempema, client services; and
Arthur Watson, finance and operations.
