Kantar Hires Executive Team to Lead Launch of its Videolytics Platform

Kantar Video, a division of WPP's market and audience research arm, Kantar (formerly TNS Media), said Monday that it has expanded the executive management team that will lead the global roll-out of its Videolytics online and mobile video syndication, tracking and optimization platform. (Note: the company bills Videolytics, currently in private beta, as "designed to enable advertisers, agencies, media companies and content creators to assess and improve the impact of online and mobile video on their brands, audiences and marketing plans." According to the company, the platform will offer "content identity, syndication, tracking, measurement, analytics, and optimization for marketers and their agencies, media companies, and content creators and distributors." It is scheduled to launch in the fall).

The new hires are:

• SVP of business development, Keir Walton, who was formerly EVP of WPP's sponsorship, promotional partnership and branded entertainment subsidiary, IEG. According to the company, Walton has significant experience in senior leadership roles at both large agencies and boutique firms. At Kantar Video, he will be tasked with introducing agencies and their brands to the Videolytics platform.
• SVP of analytics and research, Anne Drake, who was formerly SVP of product management at Kantar Media/Audiences. According to the company, she has extensive experience in the measurement and analysis of such emerging media as set-top box data, interactive TV and addressable advertising. At Kantar Video, she will be charged with designing a comprehensive set of analytics and optimization tools, while working with other Kantar business units to integrate online and mobile insights into their own product suites.
• Evangelist, Jamison Tilsner, who was formerly COO of Tubefilter and a co-founder of the Streamy Awards and the International Academy of Web Television. He will be charged with "contextualizing and advocating" on behalf of Kantar Video's efforts in online and mobile video and will also, the company says, "facilitate business development activities relative to content creators, content distributors and other members of the video ecosystem."
• Andrew Chang, who will be part of Kantar Video's business development team. According to the company, he has "vast experience" as a digital media strategist and entrepreneur, serving most recently as an advisor to start-ups such as DashMob and Looxii. He previously founded Rogue Media, a digital media company focused on developing and operating ad-supported and ecommerce Web sites.
• Platform manager, Andrew Cheng, who was previously director of advanced analytics at Kantar Media/Audiences. According to the company, that position saw him playing a key role in developing software, functionality and analytics that integrated linear and non-linear set-top box data. Kantar Video claims that he will bring to the company "a wealth of knowledge in the area of TV audience research that will aid the company in bridging the gap between traditional and emerging media analytics." He will be tasked with defining and developing the client user experience for the Videolytics platform.
• Marketing manager, Trevor Wolfe, who was previously digital project manager at Kantar Media, in which role he assisted with the rebranding of TNS Media's North American operations as Kantar Media. He was also a member of the team responsible for developing Kantar's Echo Video viral video measurement solution. He will be tasked with developing and coordinating Kantar Video's communications, advertising, market analysis, client relations management and "thought leadership" activities.

The new hires will report to Kantar Video CEO, Bill Lederer, who was previously COO of Kantar Media Audiences North America and global chief development officer of Kantar Media Audiences.