16th Jul 2007 07:01
Velti PLC16 July 2007 For Immediate Release Monday, 16 July 2007 Velti plc and The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc Velti and Interpublic Group Launch Mobile Marketing Joint Venture NEW YORK and LONDON -- July 16, 2007 -- Interpublic (NYSE: IPG), one of theworld's leading holding organisations of advertising agencies and marketingservices companies, and Velti (LSE: VEL), a leading mobile technology providerannounced today that they have formed Ansible, a dedicated mobile marketingcompany. Ansible will be a stand-alone unit that will partner with agenciesthroughout the holding company and be a part of Interpublic's recently createdFutures Marketing Group. Ansible will be led by Vladimir Edelman as chief executive officer. A mobilemarketing veteran, Mr. Edelman joins the company from Soapbox Mobile, a leadingprovider of full-service mobile marketing solutions, where he served as chiefexecutive officer. Prior to that, he served as vice president and generalmanager of Mobile ESPN Worldwide. Mr. Edelman's past experience includesexecutive positions at CBS, FOX, Time Warner and MSNBC. Larry Harris, formerly executive vice president, director of integratedmarketing for Draftfcb, will join Ansible as president. Mr. Harris most recentlyled the Interpublic/Facebook.com collaborative team, which helped clients andIPG agencies develop innovative research and marketing programs that leveragedthe popular social networking platform for competitive advantage. Prior toDraftfcb, Mr. Harris founded and ran FCBi Digital, where he led onlinestrategies and creative development for a broad array of clients, including AT&T, HP, Merck, MetLife, JPMorganChase and Qwest. Based in New York, Ansible will be a provider of mobile marketing solutions toInterpublic agencies and clients. The company will work with brands, agenciesand content providers to develop and deploy mobile advertising and marketingprograms. Ansible will offer mobile strategy, creative development and campaignmanagement, leveraging best-in-class technology and expertise. The company willoperate in North America, Europe and Asia and will utilize Velti's proprietaryservices and mobile marketing technology in all markets. Michael I. Roth, chairman and chief executive officer of Interpublic said:"Mobile is a crucial medium that increasingly bridges traditional media channelsto provide fully integrated client solutions. The pace at which marketingdollars will flow to emerging media that are accountable and cost efficient willcontinue to accelerate. The power of mobile marketing can now be seamlesslyincorporated into the multi-channel solutions that all of our companies mustprovide to our clients to meet their evolving needs." Alexandros Moukas, chief executive officer of Velti, added: "We are very excitedto be forging a strategic relationship with Interpublic through Ansible. Mobileis poised to experience explosive growth over the next few years, offeringunparallel targeting and reach compared to all other media, including theinternet. Velti's technology and service capabilities coupled with Interpublic'scustomers, brand reach and footprint make Ansible the first complete globaloffering in mobile marketing and advertising." "We evaluated more than 40 mobile services providers and decided to work withVelti because of their best-of-breed technology platform and their extensiveoperator experience," said Bant Breen, president of the Futures Marketing Group."As a new company within the Futures Marketing Group, Ansible will complementour stable of emerging media resources, which include Reprise Media, andpartners such as the Interpublic Emerging Media Lab, Spot Runner and Facebook." "Mobile is a new way of life," said Mr. Edelman. "It presents a new way ofconnecting with consumers; helping consumers connect with each other; andincreasing the efficiency and effectiveness of other media. We look forward toworking with agencies and clients to create innovative mobile solutions fortheir brands." Mr. Harris added that "Mobile is a key medium for many of ourclients, and with Ansible we are positioned to offer best in class service inthis emerging channel." END CONTACTS Interpublic: Philippe Krakowsky +1 (212) 704-1328Executive VP, Strategy and Corporate Relations Jerry Leshne +1 (212) 704-1439(Analysts, Investors) Velti:Alex Moukas, Chief Executive Officer +44 (0) 20 7633 5000Pantelis Papageorgiou, Finance Director Bankside: +44 (0) 20 7367 8888Simon Bloomfield or Steve Liebmann Oriel Securities: +44 (0) 20 7710 7600Andrew Edwards About Interpublic Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agenciesand marketing services companies. Major global brands include Draftfcb,FutureBrand, GolinHarris International, Initiative, Jack Morton Worldwide, LoweWorldwide, MAGNA Global, McCann Erickson, Momentum, MRM Worldwide, Octagon,Universal McCann and Weber Shandwick. Leading US brands include Campbell-Ewald,Carmichael Lynch, Deutsch, Hill Holliday, Mullen, The Martin Agency and R/GA.For more information, please visit www.interpublic.com. About Velti Velti is a leading mobile platforms and services provider that enables mobileadvertising, marketing and mobile content. With offices in London, New York,Boston and Athens and more than 200 employees, Velti operates in 10 countriesand its more than 100 corporate customers include major mobile networkoperators, advertising agencies and media groups. Velti is a publicly tradedcompany listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information please visitwww.velti.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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