Our Industry Profile takes a weekly look at some of the professionals working across the advertising, ad tech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles and companies across the buzzing industry.
Today we head to North Sydney to speak to GumGum vice president ANZ, Jon Stubley.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
Three months.
In one sentence, how would you describe what the company does?
GumGum is a computer vision company. We're best known for inventing a form of advertising called in-image advertising.
In one sentence, what does your role involve?
Building a world class sales team to educate, and demonstrate to, the local market the effectiveness of in-image advertising and the enormous opportunity this represents to brands.
Within the last six months/year, what stands out as the company’s major milestones?
The company has been operating in the USA since 2007. We work with all of the media agency holding groups and many of the world’s leading brands. The company is already profitable however within the past year we have raised an additional US$26 million to further enhance our development team and, very importantly, to expand our global footprint. We now have offices in the US, UK and Australia and are viewing further international expansion throughout 2016.
Best thing about the industry you work in:
Being at the pointy end of where science and creativity meet to provide a much better marketing experience for brands and end users alike.
Previous industry related (ad land/ad tech) companies you have worked at:
Nine Entertainment, Foxtel, Australian Radio Network, Macquarie Radio Network, Pandora Media.
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in three years time?
I would expect that within the next three years, GumGum’s global footprint will have expanded substantially and we anticipate that Australia will be the hub of our Asia Pacific expansion. Hence I will most likely be in an aeroplane somewhere over the Pacific.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
My daughter and I like to pretend that we’re gangsta-rappers and refer to each other as ‘Dawg’.
Top networking tip
Be authentic.
My favourite restaurant for a business lunch is:
Anywhere on Woolloomolloo Wharf.
My favourite advert is:
I love the “Unpacking Samsung” 90-second TV commercial.
My must-have gadget is:
Bluetooth wireless headphones.
My favourite media is:
I’m not sure that I have a “favourite” but I’m excited by the potential of mobile - we’ve only just scraped the surface at this stage.
My favourite TV show is:
The Blacklist.
The last book I read:
Zero Limits.
My mantra / philosophy is:
Treat people in the same way that you yourself would like to be treated by others.
I got into advertising/ad tech/marketing etc because:
I love to learn about the art of influencing.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
On a farm, raising cows.
In five years' time I'll be:
Somewhere in APAC continuing to innovate in the ad tech space... and hopefully raising cattle in my spare time.
Define your job in one word:
Leadership.
What's your poison:
Coopers Pale Ale – Thanks Glenn Cooper!
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