Our Industry Insights 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.
Last week we spoke to Tribe CEO Anthony Svirskis, this week we head to Sydney to speak with director of advertising technology at Salesforce, Kevin Doyle.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
Coming up to five years, with my role typically evolving or changing every 12 months.
How would you describe what the company does?
Salesforce helps our customers connect with their customers in new and better ways.
What does your role involve?
The biggest issue in marketing has always been that advertising is disconnected from the rest of the customer experience. My role is to help our customers fix that.
Within the last six months/year, what stands out as the company’s major milestones?
It has been a pretty big 12 months for Salesforce – at the end of last year Salesforce was named Best Place to Work in Australia by Great Places to Work last year and second this year, were ranked by Forbes as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, and we also acquired the world’s best DMP in Krux last November.
Best thing about the industry you work in:
That other industries look to cloud-based technology to help them transform their industries.
Previous industry related companies you have worked at:
I've been lucky enough to work at some bloody good creative shops including DDB, David&Goliath Los Angeles, VCCP London and Clemenger BBDO.
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in three years time?
Helping Salesforce's customers deliver even better customer experiences using innovative technology that doesn't exist today.
What is the elephant in the room?
"The thing that no one is talking about – but they should be".
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I once won a "Livin La Vida Loca" karaoke contest.
Top networking tip:
Don't talk about work, that's for next time.
My favourite restaurant for a business lunch is:
Felix on Ash Street Laneway in Sydney. Top little brasserie.
My favourite advert is:
Budweiser's ‘Real Men of Genius’ campaign - it went viral via .wav files being sent across email.
My must-have gadget is:
A baby monitor.
My favourite media is:
With an eight-month-old son at home, the flexibility of demand video services with subtitles (to keep the volume down) is a life saver.
My favourite TV show is:
I just finished The Handmaid's Tale - 10 hours viewing in under 24 hours. With an eight-month-old at home that is a Herculean feat.
The last book I read:
Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil - How big data increases inequality and threatens democracy unless modelers take more responsibility for their algorithms and policy makers regulate their use.
My mantra/philosophy is:
A philosophy of ‘Say yes, then figure it out’ has helped me be open to new opportunities outside of my comfort zone.
I got into advertising/ad tech/marketing etc because:
Some chap quit the DDB grad program after week one and well, they were a bit desperate.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
Starting a blockchain solution for the media industry.
In five years' time I'll be:
Regretting not starting a blockchain solution for the media industry.
Define your job in one word:
Innovative.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
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