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 Gumtree head of advertising Laura Hill, today we speak to SpotX ANZ country manager Christopher Blok.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
A year and a half as country manager and nearly four years at SpotX.
In one sentence, how would you describe what the company does?
SpotX is a video ad serving platform providing media owners with features including modern ad serving, programmatic infrastructure, and other monetisation tools, like solutions for OTT and outstream video ad units.
In one sentence, what does your role involve?
The role involves managing operations, business development and increasing profitability for SpotX in Australia and New Zealand, while building new and maintaining existing client relationships.
Within the last six months/year, what stands out as the company’s major milestones?
The expansion of SpotX as a company, now at 400+ employees, along the continued market leading first features SpotX push to market. With data leakage such a big concern for publishers, SpotX’s recently released ‘Audience Lock’ product is going to be a game changer by providing a secure environment for broadcasters, publishers and advertisers to activate their first-party data for targeting.
Best thing about the industry you work in:
Taking on leadership of SpotX in Australia and New Zealand has been an exciting challenge as the company expands aggressively in the region. No two days are the same, I’m continually learning and there’s never a dull moment.
Previous industry related (ad land/ad tech) companies you have worked at:
Over 10 years of experience in agency, publisher and ad tech firms, including Mindshare, Eyecorp (now part of Ooh!), News Corp, Optus and Brandscreen.
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in three years time?
Helping brands, advertisers and media owners drive change within the adtech industry
What is the elephant in the room? The thing that no one is talking about – but they should be.
Programmatic TV. In five years, most TV will be streamed. There’s a lot of hype, but separating the fact from the fiction is no easy task.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I gave up working in media for an eight-month stint working on a cattle station in the Northern Territory.
Top networking tip:
Leave your ego at the door, be yourself and it will take you far in this industry.
My favourite restaurant for a business lunch is:
Fratelli Fresh – never disappoints.
My favourite advert is:
Toohey’s New - “Guide Dog”
My must-have gadget is:
Swiss Army Knife
My favourite media is:
I still have a passion for OOH, especially large format.
My favourite TV show is:
The Sons of Anarchy series was pretty epic.
The last book I read:
The Emotional Life of your Brain – Richard J. Davidson with Sharon Begley
My mantra / philosophy is:
Be genuine, show respect and treat other people the way you want to be treated.
I got into advertising/ad tech/marketing etc because:
Because my mates were doing it at the time and there was a role working on the Diageo account, more specifically on Bundaberg Rum and Johnnie Walker.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
I’d be working in property - mainly in property development.
In five years' time I'll be:
Still working within the ad tech industry and helping drive industry change.
Define your job in one word:
Encompassing.
What's your poison:
Red wine if out at a lunch, but on a night out it has to be Bundy Rum.
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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