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Improve Digital expands UK team

Online advertising revenue specialist and sell-side platform, Improve Digital, has hired Alasdair Cross as VP of UK publisher development and Kevin Fox as strategic partnership manager.

The move comes, says the company, as it prepares to further increase its foothold in the market following its 400 percent revenue increase in 2010.

Alasdair (pictured) joins Improve Digital from online advertising technology company Adprecision, which he co-founded in 2005 to help media owners maximise the potential of rapidly-evolving search marketing. Clients included the Daily Express, the Evening Standard, the Independent, IPC Media, National Magazines, News International and the Telegraph. Alasdair’s previous roles also include business development manager at Associated Northcliffe Digital and senior sales positions at United Business Media.

Joëlle Frijters, CEO of Improve Digital, explains: “It is critical that we maintain the momentum of last year’s success and encourage more online publishing houses to take control of the automated element of their ad inventory sales channel. Alasdair’s in-depth industry knowledge and experience ensures that he understands publishers’ ‘pain points’ and can help them maximise their revenues. He is well-respected within the sector and has strong relationships with most of the major publishers in the UK, making him a valuable addition to the Improve Digital team.”

“Digital marketing technology continues to revolutionise the advertising industry and offer new opportunities for all parties. However, that change also brings ongoing challenges, particularly for publishers, and our role is to smooth their path to a profitable future,” says Alasdair. “Improve Digital is the only supply side platform to be founded in Europe, and its country-specific teams provide publishers with the local knowledge that is essential in this business. Joining the company now is a compelling proposition.”

Kevin will be based at Improve Digital’s headquarters in Amsterdam, where he will be responsible for liaising directly with ad networks to help maximise revenues for publishers. Prior to joining Improve Digital, he worked as a network and traffic manager for ad network and digital sales house, Digitize, in Dublin. In managing the company’s AdSure display network, his specific focus was buying and selling remnant inventory. He has worked with a variety of demand side platforms and ad exchanges, as well as premium publishers including Channel4, Glam Media, IGN and Miniclip.

“Kevin’s experience makes him an ideal candidate to ensure that we continue to offer publishers the skills needed to get ahead in the complex and competitive world of online advertising,” concludes Joëlle.

About Improve Digital

Improve Digital says: “Improve Digital’s mission is to give premium publishers the power to generate and increase their revenues from direct advertisers and other buyers in a trusted environment that they control. Founded in February 2008 in the Netherlands, Improve Digital is based in Amsterdam and has sales offices in Hamburg, Munchen, London, Madrid and Paris.”