ADOTAT

In a move that feels like adding a shot of espresso to your morning cafecito, Canela Media has tapped industry veteran Philippe Guelton as Global President. Tasked with steering the company's expansion across the U.S. and Latin America, Guelton will report directly to Co-Founder and CEO Isabel Rafferty Zavala, the powerhouse behind Canela's mission to deliver culturally relevant content to Hispanic audiences. Guelton's career is a veritable tapas platter of media experience. He began in the publishing world, holding various management and finance positions at Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. before jet-setting to Japan as CEO of Hachette Fujingaho, where he led the acquisition and integration of the Japanese publishing company. This international escapade provided him with a global perspective on media consumption trends. Back in the States, Guelton served as Chief Operating Officer at Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., overseeing print and digital platforms for brands such as Elle and Woman’s Day. He then dived into the digital realm as President of Thrillist Media Group, a leading men's lifestyle publication, and later as CEO of SheKnows Media (interestingly enough I represented these guys years ago -- now She Media), a mission-driven digital media company boasting over 60 million monthly unique visitors. Before joining Canela Media, Guelton was President of Crackle Plus and Chief Revenue Officer at Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc., where he oversaw the Crackle streaming platform and Crackle Connex, the company's advertising sales arm. Canela Media, under Isabel Rafferty Zavala's leadership, has been on a meteoric rise since its inception. The company offers a free streaming service, Canela.TV, providing on-demand #Latino-focused movies and TV entertainment across multiple platforms. For advertisers, Canela Media serves up a proprietary data-driven platform called Canela Audience Solutions, designed to target U.S. #Hispanic audiences across both English and Spanish language OTT platforms. Looking ahead, Canela Media is set to unveil Canela Rewards in 2025, a loyalty program where users can earn points by watching videos and interacting with brands. This initiative aims to deepen user engagement and provide advertisers with innovative ways to connect with their target audience. Guelton's appointment signals Canela Media's commitment to leveraging seasoned leadership to navigate the ever-evolving media landscape. His extensive experience in both traditional and digital media, combined with a proven track record of driving growth and innovation, positions him as a key player in Canela's ambitious expansion plans. As the company continues to disrupt the streaming industry with its culturally resonant content and cutting-edge advertising solutions, Guelton's leadership will be instrumental in steering Canela Media toward new horizons. Stay bold, stay curious, and know more than you did yesterday. ADOTAT

Jackelyn Keller, MBA Joins Comscore, Inc. as #CMO, Ready to Turn Measurement Into a Contact Sport Here’s the headline you didn’t see coming but probably should have: Comscore, the self-proclaimed oracle of consumer behavior data, just snagged Jackelyn Keller to lead its marketing game. Keller, who has been everywhere and done everything (Samsung Ads, Quantcast, Discovery, Turner—you get the idea), is now taking her talents to a company that’s been measuring your every move for over 25 years. With a résumé that screams “I know more about ads than you ever will,” Keller isn’t just here to shake things up—she’s here to rewrite the measurement playbook for a world where streaming, programmatic, and linear TV are in a three-way knife fight for your attention. And let’s not forget her stint at Samsung Ads, where she helped launch a DSP and made sure you saw ads for refrigerators right before binge-watching your favorite show. Since last fall, Keller’s been moonlighting as an advisor to Comscore, giving their branding and strategy a much-needed zhuzh. She's the mastermind behind projects like Comscore Data Divas and Barbershop, Beauty and Local Buzz—because who doesn’t want their measurement tools with a side of sass and relatability? CEO Jon Carpenter, clearly thrilled to have a heavy-hitter like Keller on the team, gushed about her “exceptional talent for positioning and accessible branding,” which is corporate speak for “we finally have someone who can make this sound cool.” Keller herself is leaning into the drama, declaring this a “transformative time” and vowing to light the way for the industry as it lumbers into a programmatic future. Her mission? To bridge the fragmented media landscape with tools that actually make sense and, let’s be honest, help Comscore stay relevant in a world where attention spans are measured in swipes and scrolls. With degrees from Yeshiva University (my daughter also went there) and Fordham University, plus a side gig as an MBA professor, Keller is the Swiss Army knife of media brains. Expect her to cut through the noise, simplify Comscore’s message, and maybe even make measurement fun—or at least tolerable. Welcome to the Comscore era of Jackelyn Keller. Buckle up, data nerds.

🎥 Adtech Trivia, Shakespearean Pitches, and a Dance-Off You Won’t Forget! 🎯 Ever wonder what happens when adtech’s sharpest minds meet the wildest game show? This week on The Metrics Don’t Matter (brought to you by The ADOTAT Show), Kenneth Rona, Ph.D., PhD and Lynne d Johnson go head-to-head in a no-holds-barred trivia smackdown, marketing improv madness, and even a Shakespearean attempt at adtech poetry. Spoiler: it’s as chaotic as it sounds. This isn’t your typical industry talk—this is adtech with a shot of espresso and a splash of absurdity. Expect: 🎭 Shakespearean ad pitches (yes, we went there). 🤖 Hyperactive AI marketing bots gone rogue. 🎪 A carnival barker selling data transparency. 💃 A dance-off that redefines what it means to “close the loop.” Massive thanks to our sponsor Incremental for making this glorious chaos possible. They’re proving that “incremental improvement” isn’t just jargon—it’s the key to campaign brilliance. 👉 Watch now and see why The Metrics Don’t Matter is the most fun you’ll have thinking about ad KPIs. 💬 What’s your take? Are metrics overrated, or should we still care about CTRs and viewability percentages? Drop your thoughts in the comments after you watch. 🚨 Warning: Side effects may include uncontrollable laughter and new respect for Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter. #AdTech #MarketingMadness #TheADOTATShow #MetricsDontMatter #Incremental The ADOTAT Show ADOTAT https://lnkd.in/gfsg7BZf

Rembrand's $23 Million Flex: Turning Ads Into "Did That Belong There?" Moments In a move that makes ad-skipping couch potatoes everywhere groan, Rembrand just scored $23 million in Series A funding to double down on its futuristic mission: making ads so sneaky, you’ll barely notice they’re there. This round was led by super{set}, with big-name backers like The Trade Desk, Naver D2SF, and L’Oréal’s BOLD fund lining up to join the fun. Existing investors like Greycroft couldn’t resist either, showing that when it comes to virtual product placement, everyone wants a slice. Omar Tawakol, Rembrand's CEO and co-founder, didn’t hold back on the victory lap. “We’re thrilled to have the backing of such a distinguished group of investors,” he declared, probably while envisioning how to drop your favorite soda into next year’s biggest Netflix hit. “This funding will enable us to accelerate our growth, expand our team, and continue to innovate our technology platform to meet the evolving needs of advertisers and content owners across the broader video marketplace.” Translation: your favorite show’s main character is about to be best friends with the hottest new beverage brand, whether the script originally called for it or not. Rembrand is taking AI-powered product placement to the next level. Picture this: you’re watching a crime drama, and in the middle of a tense interrogation, there’s a casually placed box of cereal on the counter that wasn’t in the original shoot. That’s Rembrand’s handiwork. Their tech slides brands into video content so seamlessly, it’s almost an art form—think Monet meets Madison Avenue. For advertisers, it’s a win. More brand awareness? Check. Longer screen time? Double-check. Non-intrusive but attention-grabbing placements? Triple-check. Meanwhile, audiences get to pretend these ads are just part of the story. It’s the digital equivalent of sprinkling MSG into every meal—you don’t know it’s there, but it makes everything pop. Tom Chavez, co-founder and general partner at super{set}, spelled it out: “Rembrand is at the forefront of a major shift utilizing AI in advertising, and we are excited to partner with them as they scale their business and transform the way brands connect with consumers.” And with The Trade Desk and L’Oréal joining the mix, it’s clear the advertising world is waking up to this game-changing approach. Naver D2SF’s involvement shows they see global potential, while Greycroft’s continued support says, “Yep, these folks know what they’re doing.” CTV Is the Playground The Connected TV (CTV) space is where this gets real. With the rise of streaming platforms, traditional ads are out, and clever integrations are in. Viewers are done tolerating pre-roll ads, but sneak in a product during their favorite show? Suddenly, it’s palatable—barely noticeable, even. Rembrand is positioning itself as the king of this hill, ready to dominate a market that’s growing faster than your Wi-Fi bill.

Jackelyn Keller, MBA Joins Comscore, Inc. as #CMO, Ready to Turn Measurement Into a Contact Sport Here’s the headline you didn’t see coming but probably should have: Comscore, the self-proclaimed oracle of consumer behavior data, just snagged Jackelyn Keller to lead its marketing game. Keller, who has been everywhere and done everything (Samsung Ads, Quantcast, Discovery, Turner—you get the idea), is now taking her talents to a company that’s been measuring your every move for over 25 years. With a résumé that screams “I know more about ads than you ever will,” Keller isn’t just here to shake things up—she’s here to rewrite the measurement playbook for a world where streaming, programmatic, and linear TV are in a three-way knife fight for your attention. And let’s not forget her stint at Samsung Ads, where she helped launch a DSP and made sure you saw ads for refrigerators right before binge-watching your favorite show. Since last fall, Keller’s been moonlighting as an advisor to Comscore, giving their branding and strategy a much-needed zhuzh. She's the mastermind behind projects like Comscore Data Divas and Barbershop, Beauty and Local Buzz—because who doesn’t want their measurement tools with a side of sass and relatability? CEO Jon Carpenter, clearly thrilled to have a heavy-hitter like Keller on the team, gushed about her “exceptional talent for positioning and accessible branding,” which is corporate speak for “we finally have someone who can make this sound cool.” Keller herself is leaning into the drama, declaring this a “transformative time” and vowing to light the way for the industry as it lumbers into a programmatic future. Her mission? To bridge the fragmented media landscape with tools that actually make sense and, let’s be honest, help Comscore stay relevant in a world where attention spans are measured in swipes and scrolls. With degrees from Yeshiva University (my daughter also went there) and Fordham University, plus a side gig as an MBA professor, Keller is the Swiss Army knife of media brains. Expect her to cut through the noise, simplify Comscore’s message, and maybe even make measurement fun—or at least tolerable. Welcome to the Comscore era of Jackelyn Keller. Buckle up, data nerds.

Viant Technology Announces Partnership with Association of National Advertisers, World Remains Unchanged Viant Technology, the self-proclaimed leader in #AI-powered programmatic advertising (whatever that actually means today), has teamed up with the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) in what they’re calling a “strategic partnership.” What’s strategic about it? Good question. The press release reads like it was written by ChatGPT on Ambien. “We’re thrilled to welcome Viant,” says ANA’s Bill Duggan, because that’s what you’re contractually obligated to say in these things. He went on to name-check all the corporate buzzwords—AI, CTV, sustainability—without actually explaining how this partnership moves the needle for anyone outside the Viant boardroom. Viant, not to be outdone, patted itself on the back for “redefining” programmatic advertising with its AI tool, ViantAI. Yes, redefining it into what? Nobody knows. But rest assured, it’s groundbreaking, scalable, and definitely not the same jargon every other adtech player is spewing. And just in case you weren’t impressed yet, the release reminds us that Viant is super award-winning, certified as a “Great Place to Work®,” and loved by MarTech Breakthrough for its demand-side platform. Because what screams innovation more than a trophy from the adtech equivalent of a participation ribbon? So, what’s the big takeaway here? Viant and ANA are “collaborating” to “shape the future of advertising,” which sounds amazing until you realize it’s a lot of noise with very little substance. But hey, at least they’re excited about it. Stay tuned for updates, or don’t. Nothing is likely to change.

🚨 Curation is the New Ad Tech Superpower 🚨 Remember when programmatic advertising felt like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something stuck? Well, it’s now 2025, and the supply side decided to put on a suit and actually show up for the party. Curation is no longer a buzzword—it’s the main event. From Audigent, a part of Experian's nerd-turned-prom-king moment with Experian to sustainable inventory giving greenwashing the boot, curated supply is finally turning chaos into clarity. Ads are smarter, less annoying, and—dare we say—kind of elegant. Here’s the kicker: this isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about trust, relevance, and a better user experience. Consumers win. Advertisers win. (Middlemen? Not so much.) For the juicy details—Audigent’s rise, CTV’s glow-up, and why retail media is the sleeper hit of the year—check out the full story in this morning's newsletter. Your move, 2025. 📩 Not subscribed yet? Let me know if you need the link. Also mentioned. Drew Stein, Kimberly Gilberti Albert Nieto Riera Richard Raddon Rajeev Goel Fred Godfrey Lauren Wetzel Jeremy Arditi Scott Howe Jay Prasad Meredith Brace Andrew Eifler Ed Dinichert Experian Seedtag Zefr PubMatic Origin Kroger Target InfoSum Teads LiveRamp TripleLift StackAdapt

Think you’ve seen all the adtech plot twists? Hold my coffee. Experian just scooped up Audigent, and let’s be honest, we all saw this coming. This is less “shocking revelation” and more “rom-com third act where the inevitable finally happens.” Experian’s hoarding enough data to make Orwell roll over, and now they’ve added Audigent’s boutique first-party goodies to the arsenal. Together, they’re cooking up an ad targeting system so sharp it could split hairs. Drew Stein Will they stay in their lanes or drive this power move off a cliff? Grab your popcorn and click through to find out. https://lnkd.in/gtJcNFAR

🎉 End-of-Year Dance Party Alert 🎉 Before we take a much-needed break (off Friday and all next week, folks), we had to shout out the incredible dance moves from this year’s all-stars. Seriously, if dancing were an Olympic sport, this crew would sweep the podium. The ADOTAT Show Lou Paskalis, Scott Schiller, Paul Bannister Angelina Eng Lizzie Chapman Gavin Dunaway Kenneth Rona, Ph.D. Lynne d Johnson Sean M. McCormick Mario Diez Bill Rice Eric Tilbury Fred Godfrey Jana Meron Erin Levzow Wesley Haar, ter: Alex Li Sam Bloom Jonathan Moffie Oscar Garza Swetha Subramanian Charles C. Jamie Barnard Here’s to an incredible year of rhythm, moves, and pure magic. See you all in January for another season of brilliance (and maybe a few more dance-offs). Stay Bold, Stay Curious, and Know More than You Did Yesterday

🎉 End-of-Year Dance Party Alert 🎉 Before we take a much-needed break (off Friday and all next week, folks), we had to shout out the incredible dance moves from this year’s all-stars. Seriously, if dancing were an Olympic sport, this crew would sweep the podium. The ADOTAT Show Lou Paskalis, Scott Schiller, Paul Bannister Angelina Eng Lizzie Chapman Gavin Dunaway Kenneth Rona, Ph.D. Lynne d Johnson Sean M. McCormick Mario Diez Bill Rice Eric Tilbury Fred Godfrey Jana Meron Erin Levzow Wesley Haar, ter: Alex Li Sam Bloom Jonathan Moffie Oscar Garza Swetha Subramanian Charles C. Jamie Barnard Here’s to an incredible year of rhythm, moves, and pure magic. See you all in January for another season of brilliance (and maybe a few more dance-offs). Stay Bold, Stay Curious, and Know More than You Did Yesterday