Akoo Appoints New Sales EVP, CMO

Elise-McVeigh

Akoo, which delivers entertainment programming to a network of digital displays in malls and universities across the U.S., is muscling up with new executive appointments.

The hires come amid continuing expansion and a series of new content and sales partnerships. They follow the appointment of William "Billy" Campbell III (president of Discovery Networks from 2002-2007) as Akoo's president in October 2010.

Akoo named Elise B. McVeigh executive vice president for sales. In her most recent position, McVeigh served as an independent consultant for media companies on traditional and digital media sales and business development. She has also served as a media consultant to the president of ad sales for Discovery Communications, vice president of national sales for mtvU, vice president and national sales manager for TLC, and vice president of partnerships for Lifetime Television.

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Simultaneously, Akoo announced the appointment of Derek Koenig as chief marketing officer. Before joining Akoo, Koenig worked as an independent consultant for top consumer brands like Nike and Sony, advising them on strategic marketing and advertising programs. He also worked as chief marketing officer for Vail Resorts, and before that as senior vice-president of Discovery Networks.

Not coincidentally, both hires served under Campbell during his tenure as boss of Discovery Networks: McVeigh worked there from 2004-2005 and again from 2007-2010, and Koenig from 2005-2008.

Akoo operates an interactive "social TV" network delivering music videos and related entertainment content to mall food courts, university dining halls and other public places frequented by young adults. Viewers can use their mobile devices as remote controls to interact with this advertising, download coupons, etc.

Overall. Akoo claims its interactive Social Television network reaches 90 million consumers each month across 62 top U.S. markets, many of them young adults. Its programming includes licensed music videos from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI, as well as exclusive artist interviews and branded entertainment content.

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