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.
For our last profile we spoke with PHD Australia chief strategy officer Stewart Gurney.
This time we speak to Ooyala APAC general manager Steve Davis.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
11 months current role, six years Ooyala
In one sentence, how would you describe what the company does?
Ooyala is an integrated video platform solutions provider helping major broadcasters, publishers, studios and production companies make more money with video.
See here: Telstra makes $290m video play with Ooyala acquisition
In one sentence, what does your role involve?
My role involves looking after all of our customers and employees across the region, and to make sure both are happy.
Within the last six months/year, what stands out as the company’s major milestones?
In the last six months Ooyala has launched a global channel program, hired Jonathan Huberman as its CEO, announced a new partnership with Adobe and expanded its existing partnership with Microsoft to bring AI into production. It’s all in part due to Ooyala’s innovations to help drive more return at every step in the video lifecycle - from script to screen. Ooyala is the only provider in the market with integrated video platform solutions that help minimise costs and maximise returns, by providing common data sets that build collective insights across every process in a video business. The insights help drive smarter, more strategic decisions for greater ROI.
Best thing about the industry you work in:
You can’t get bored. The digital video landscape is changing and growing by the day.
Previous industry related companies you have worked at:
AC Nielsen
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in three years time?
I would be very happy doing the same job in three years time.
What is the elephant in the room? The thing that no one is talking about – but they should be.
The consolidation in the industry is real and there will only be a few winners. Will you be one of them?
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I play the saxophone.
Top networking tip:
Be good to everyone because they know someone that you’ll need to know eventually.
My favourite restaurant for a business lunch is:
Nomad
My favourite advert is:
Favourite all time ad is Reebok’s Office Linebacker
My must-have gadget is:
Swiss army Knife
My favourite media is:
iPad
My favourite TV show is:
Game of Thrones
The last book I read:
A Man Called Ove
My mantra / philosophy is:
Work Hard, Play Hard and the Golden Rule
I got into advertising because:
I’ve always loved the creativity behind it.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
A professional tennis player
In five years' time I'll be:
Wiser
Define your job in one word:
Challenging
What's your poison:
Great American craft beer
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