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.
This week we head to Sydney to meet Dylan Robinson, commercial director at Sizmek Media Solutions.
Duration in current role/time at the company: Six months in the current role and nearly four years with Sizmek. I’m coming up to five years working in programmatic advertising.
In one sentence, how would you describe what the company does?
Sizmek is the leading independent ad technology company that has created an open ad management platform for seamless end-to-end solutions for ad serving, analytics, building creative and programmatic solutions. We provide a full suite of digital solutions to marketers, agencies, publishers and trading desks.
In one sentence, what does your role involve?
Building strategic partnerships with trading desks, advertisers, agencies, and publishers all across the Asia Pacific region. In a nutshell, my goal is to convert the complicated landscape that is programmatic into an easy-to-navigate environment that increases revenue for all parties.
Within the last six months/year, what stands out as the company’s major milestones?
Sizmek has brought some strong new offerings to the digital advertising market this year, including the launch of DSP connect, a strategic partnership with all the leading global DSPs, but for me the acquisition and integration of StrikeAd stands out as the major milestone. StrikeAd was the first mobile specific DSP in the world and brings a new level of sophistication to Sizmek’s mobile targeting, buying and analytics capabilities. Mobile is the future and we plan to grow our position in this market.
Best thing about the industry you work in:
Everything! When you’re part of such an incredibly diverse and dynamic industry such as digital advertising, it’s a real privilege to work for a company like Sizmek, which continuously brings innovative technologies to market. I never stop learning!
Previous industry related (ad land/ad tech) companies you have worked at:
SpotXchange, Exponential, Orange PLC (France Telecom), Telegraph Media Group, BBC and Interactive Investor International. I have worked on both the buy side and the sell side of the ad tech ecosystem and my career has benefited greatly from this mix of experience.
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in three years time?
With Sizmek and I’ll continue to grow and expand our partnerships and offerings across the region.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I have a paragliding license. Being up in the air is such an amazing feeling!
Top networking tip:
Always look at the guest list before going to an event, check out their LinkedIn profiles and do a bit of research on the company and the person’s background. Also don’t get too drunk. You don’t want to be remember for being ‘that guy/girl’.
My favourite restaurant for a business lunch is:
Café Sydney or Jonah's restaurant. The views match the food and they’re both good places to take top clients in Sydney.
My favourite advert is:
The Old Spice Ad. I know, obvious paragliding reference.
My must-have gadget is:
The iPhone. Great design and a mini portable computer, you got to love that.
My favourite media is:
The Cinema. There’s something special about watching films on the big screen.
My favourite TV show:
It’s a toss-up between Breaking Bad or Sopranos.
The last book I read:
Wilbur Smith – Assegai.
My mantra / philosophy is:
Seek the harder challenge.
I got into advertising/ad tech/marketing etc because:
My granddad worked in advertising in London back in the 50’s and 60’s. His job really interested me so I started to look into it and here I am.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I would like to be:
A pilot. It’s great fun and you have a real sense of freedom.
In five years' time I'll be:
In Sydney or somewhere in Europe working in the programmatic industry.
Define your job in one word:
Innovative.
What's your poison:
Depends on the weather and the occasion. Beer if it’s hot, wine if I’m having dinner or whiskey at the end of the night.
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