Gain Theory–a global WPP marketing foresight consultancy that brings together data, analytics, technology solutions and consumer-insight capabilities–has named Karen Kaufman to serve as managing partner, client development for North America and Latin America. In this newly created role, Kaufman will be developing new and existing client relationships in these territories. She will report to Jason Harrison, who in April was named worldwide CEO of Gain Theory.
Having worked within WPP for 16 years–with the likes of Ogilvy & Mather, Maxus and Mindshare–Kaufman has acted as a consultant advisor to some of the biggest advertisers in the world. Her heavyweight experience has seen her create custom analytical approaches to complex marketing challenges, connecting analytics and insights to execution and taking clients through the journey from challenge to solution.
Kaufman joins from GroupM Consulting Practice which saw her partner closely with a leading CPG client, to develop strategies that drive long-term profitable growth.
Google Opens Its Defense In Antitrust Case Alleging Monopoly Over Online Ad Technology
Google opened its defense against allegations that it holds an illegal monopoly on online advertising technology Friday with witness testimony saying the industry is vastly more complex and competitive than portrayed by the federal government.
"The industry has been exceptionally fluid over the last 18 years," said Scott Sheffer, a vice president for global partnerships at Google, the company's first witness at its antitrust trial in federal court in Alexandria.
The Justice Department and a coalition of states contend that Google built and maintained an illegal monopoly over the technology that facilitates the buying and selling of online ads seen by consumers.
Google counters that the government's case improperly focuses on a narrow type of online ads — essentially the rectangular ones that appear on the top and on the right-hand side of a webpage. In its opening statement, Google's lawyers said the Supreme Court has warned judges against taking action when dealing with rapidly emerging technology like what Sheffer described because of the risk of error or unintended consequences.
Google says defining the market so narrowly ignores the competition it faces from social media companies, Amazon, streaming TV providers and others who offer advertisers the means to reach online consumers.
Justice Department lawyers called witnesses to testify for two weeks before resting their case Friday afternoon, detailing the ways that automated ad exchanges conduct auctions in a matter of milliseconds to determine which ads are placed in front of which consumers and how much they cost.
The department contends the auctions are finessed in subtle ways that benefit Google to the exclusion of would-be competitors and in ways that prevent... Read More