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- The Accelerator Conundrum
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advertising agency
Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 9)
As more and more media moves to a digital format, the role of digital advertising firms will continue to increase. Firms which have hybrid experience, who truly understand brand management and are able to capitalize on online efficiency (buy more ad space for fewer dollars) are going to excel. AKQA will be an interesting firm
Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 8)
Here we get a bit philosophical about the reason behind some of the industry regulation problems, and the pressures applied from the major players. Nonethelss, here is a new trend in advertising, one that is based on algorithms and mathematics, and the older schmoozing oriented models will be forced to adapt. SM: So you think
Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 7)
With the recent trend of private equity deals and acquisitions of advertising firms, the industry is truly on fire. This is the perfect opportunity for Tom to either take his company public or sell for a substantial amount. SM: Have you had offers already for an acquisition? TB: No. SM: In the future, in terms
Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 6)
AKQA had taken funding from Francisco Partners originally, and is now generating $100M in revenue annually. Francisco recently exited the business, and sold their shares to General Atlantic Partners. This happens right at the time when the online advertising market is heating up in a big way. SM: Your new investor is General Atlantic Partners?
Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 5)
AKQA built differentiated expertise in doing interactive campaigns for a global market, including extensive localization, a strategy that spells foresight and vision. SM: Specializing in global campaigns seems to have been a good move, but could have been risky. Did it work out for you? TB: That expertise has paid off in the last couple
Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 4)
AKQA is a company that was built largely during the Dotcom crash era. SM: Of the firms you talked to, who ultimately made the investment? You were doing an ad agency roll-up, right? TB: Francisco Partners made an investment in our business which was a hybrid online / offline venture at that point. We acquired
Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 3)
After spending some time in New York, Tom moved back to San Francisco with an itch for the technology industry. SM: Where was your J Walter Thompson job located? TB: It was based out of San Francisco. I had just gotten married and my wife and I moved back to San Francisco in 1984. As
Rolling up an Online Ad Agency Powerhouse: AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre (Part 2)
SM: What was your expertise in the agency world? TB: I was an account executive. I had both a packaged goods start in the business but quickly got an opportunity to work on some technology accounts. I worked on the Polaroid business as they were getting into magnetic media, selling video tapes and compact disks
