Some interesting and notable appointments on this first day of ad:tech. Brightcove, an Internet TV service run by Jeremy Allaire, tapped Dina Roman, a former vice president at Discovery Networks, for
the position of vice president of national advertising sales, and Adam Gerber, formerly a new media strategist at MediaVest and a friend of the Minute, to the post of vice president of advertising
products and strategy.
Lately, we have been observing Brightcove and other companies like it--Narrowstep and Ripe TV are just two that come to mind--and find these appointments impressive
for a technology startup. We understand another unconventional hire is about to pop, signaling just how creatively Brightcove is thinking about the Internet video space.
Brightcove is on the
cusp of delivering a system that it says will enable Internet content providers, cable and broadcast networks, and independent producers to expand their broadband content businesses. The model is, you
guessed it, an ad-supported one. Essentially, Brightcove is creating what it calls an "open advertising platform" that any marketer, agency, or content purveyor can tap into. The differentiator,
according to Brightcove founder Allaire, is that the company's technology will enable viewers to have more control over their video consumption and experience.
Brightcove today also announced
a partnership with Publicis Groupe Media Ventures to develop new advertising and media strategies for Internet TV. The partnership will give Brightcove access to Publicis Groupe media agencies and
clients as it develops new ad strategies for Internet TV and builds its service offerings. Tim Hanlon--who heads Publicis Groupe Media Ventures and also sits on the Brightcove Advisory Board--will be
the point person for the partnership.
Agency vet Gerber--most recently with MediaVest, where he advised client Procter & Gamble on its advanced video and new media strategies--will helm the New
York office of Brightcove, which is based in Cambridge, Mass. Gerber is known for his straight-shooting, blunt assessments while navigating the agency community, and for his work on broadband Internet
standards. He worked closely with MSN to develop the capabilities of its video service.
Roman will build and lead Brightcove's ad sales team and manage its ad operations. She helped build the
Discovery Network's online strategy and led its online ad sales teams for six years. Prior to Discovery, Roman worked at Disney Online and, in the mid-90's, was part of the team that devised the
business plan for The New York Times on the Web and the paper's presence on AOL. Best of luck to both.